Finish It!

Hi!  I don't know about you but I have many leftovers as I like to call them cluttering up my craft desk, drawer and a few other places.  I start something and lack a finishing focal point, image, or inspiration!  The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave challenged us this time to finish something off that was an incomplete art project. 

I had created these beautiful shimmery backgrounds with mica stain sprays blending the colors to create a gorgeous mix of colors and then failed to use them.

Then Mr. Rabbit hopped into the house and I felt inspired to tag him!  I took one of the pieces created from this masterboard of shimmery sprays and cut it down to a tag size. 

I then stamped Mr. Rabbit using an archival ink and while it was still wet applied black embossing powder to make him really pop and hop on the background.  

Then I decided I wanted to outline and highlight him with a white gel pen.  This helped make him stand out on that strong orange background. 

I wanted to add a little whimsy to the image and decided he needed a fun bow tie and some jewelry on his floppy ear.  

I added some polka dots with some white embossing powder after stamping with Versamark randomly around the background.  

To finish it off a few black gems to his buttons and the background with a sweet sentiment.All in time for the Easter holiday coming up! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mr. Rabbit
• Versamark Ink 
• Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black
• Ranger Embossing Powder: White Detail
• Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text 
• Ranger Mica Stain Sprays Halloween Set #3
• Ranger Mica Stain Sprays Halloween Set #1
• Ranger Mica Stain Sprays Holiday Set #6 
• Jump Rings

Hat's Off to Men

 Howdy!  We are celebrating masculine inspired cards on The Funkie Junkie Boutique Inspiration Ave!  I started from some fun Idea-Ology Photomatic images to inspire my masculine card. 

Look at that face!  It is so inspiring and fun.  I created layers of grungy goodness to frame out Mr. Handsome. 

 

 The card base is from a kraft cardstock which was sponged with the lovely new Scorched Timber and sprinkled with the speckled egg distress oxide and water spots. 

The next layer is created with texture paste over a stencil which was spritzed using a mix of the scorched timber and speckled egg distress oxide.  A little water helped blend the two together.

Then a scrap of a backdrop paper sponged with a touch of the scorched timber layered  under the framed photo.

A few touches with the stamped sentiment and the numbers on the photo finished off the effect.  The embellishments of twine, die cut branch and buttons were added to create movement. 

Hop over to the Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave for more masculine projects inspiration! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Layering Stencil- Measured
• Ranger Inks Tim Holtz - Scorched Timber Distress Ink, Scorched Timber Distress Stain Spray
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Photomatic 
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Backdrops Volume 4
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Tiny Clips
  
• Stampers Anonymous - Correspondence
  
• Ranger Ink - Tim Holtz Speckled Egg Distress Oxide 
• Ranger Ink Archival - Jet Black 
• Ranger Ink - Texture Paste Opaque
  

Steampunk Lovebirds

Hi!  The design team at The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave is showcasing the latest Sizzix Release by Tim Holtz called Out of the Vault!  I was lucky enough to receive the beautiful LoveBirds! 

I decided to stamp up my die cuts to add a pop of texture to the surface.  I created a flock of birds before I realized what I wanted to use on my card.

I cut the birds from inky backgrounds and using the Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Backdrops.  I spritzed the backgrounds using the same colors I used on the card.  They were a mix of Seasonal Distress Mica Stains along with a distress oxide. 

The backgrounds were created by first applying a layer of opaque crackle texture paste over the flourish stencil. This was done on the backdrops paper and white cardstock.

 While the crackle paste was wet the sprays were sprayed multiple times along with water to help mix the colors and thin out in areas the density of the color.  Then a heat gun was used to dry out the crackle paste.  There was a mix of some areas crackling and others not because of the wetness when applied. 

After that the background was cut for the card from one of the pieces.  Then the birds were stamped using black archival ink with the various images on some inky remnants.  The birds and feather were covered in versamark ink and then a layer of clear embossing powder heated up.  This made the colors more vibrant and added another pop to the color on the cut out images. 

Happy inking! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Sizzix Tim Holtz The Vault - Lovebirds 
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Backdrops 4 
• Ranger Texture Paste Opaque Crackle
• Ranger Tim Holtz Halloween Mica Stain Set 1
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Spray - Mermaid Lagoon
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Flourish Stencil
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Eccentric
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Correspondence
  
• Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black

It's Cold Outside!

We are definitely feeling the cold this week!  We are sitting at -31 degrees with the windchill. Perfect time to sit inside and craft a bit!  The Funkie Junkie Boutique design team is showing off their cold likes and dislikes at The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave.  I was inspired by frosted windows that had such beautiful crystalized designs.  I wondered if I could emulate that with the Frosted Crystal Embossing Medium from Tim Holtz/Ranger. 

To create a frosted pane: 

1. Start with a heat resistant acetate sheet. 
2. Sponge over the stencil with Versamark ink. To get your pattern onto the acetate. 
3. Sprinkle with the Frosted Crystal. 
4. Heat up the embossing powder until the crystal shows.  (Don't overheat as eventually the crystal will melt and you will just have a clear embossed image) 

The frame on the cardstock was created with the same process. 

1.  Lay the stencil over the front of the card. 
2. Sponge on the Versamark ink. 
3. Repeat pattern until front of the card is covered with inky pattern. 
4. Sprinkle with Frosted Crystal. Shake off excess. 
5. Heat up the embossing powder. 
6. Smear gold wax over surface to create highlights.

Then cut out the inside of the card base and use for the additional layering on top.  I also used a bit of the excess from the middle to die cut the bird to place on the front of the card. 

I loved the effect of the Frosted Crystal and decided to try the same process on white cardstock. 

The tag was created by: 

1. Sponge versamark ink through the stencil onto the white cardstock. 
2. Repeat until surface area is covered. 
3. Sprinkle Crystal Frost Embossing powder over surface.  Shake off excess. 
4. Heat until the frosty effect occurs. 
5. Spray with a mix of distress oxide and micas stain sprays. 
6. Spritz with water to lighten the effect and dab with paper towels to take off excess ink.

 The next panel was made with translucent embossing paste.

To create the snowy effect: 

1. Lay stencil over heat resistant acetate. 
2. Use spatula with translucent embossing paste and apply to acetate. 
3. Repeat until covered with snowflakes. 
4. Sprinkle Frosted Crystal Embossing medium over surface and tap off excess. 
5. Some will cling to the acetate.  (I used a fine tip brush to brush off the excess) 
6. Heat emboss the snowflakes and the embossing paste.  The embossing paste will puff up which gives it an additional layer of texture. 
7. I wanted a full frosty panel so I took one more step of inking up the complete reverse side with Versamark and applying the Frosted Crystal Embossing Medium over the entire surface and then heated it up. 

This panel looked like a frosted pane of glass and was very cool!  

Keep warm! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Ranger Tim Holtz Frosted Crystal Embossing Medium
• Ranger Texture Paste Translucent
• Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Snowflake
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Flourish 
• Versamark Watermark Ink Pad
• Ranger Tim Holtz Halloween Mica Stain Spray Set #1
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide - Mermaid Lagoon
• Sizzix Thinlits Tim Holtz Love Birds
  

How Scary is that?

Back for some scary inspiration?  The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave is focused this time on scary inspiration from the new releases for Halloween!  

The inspiration for me was the spooky skeleton from the Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz The Obscure stamp set.  His creepy blank stare had me thinking of ways to showcase him on a few cards.

I decided to cut him out and open up the empty places on the skull by cutting them out with detail scissors.  I then folded the image slightly to give it space behind the skull.

Than it was all about the fun inky backgrounds made from the mica stain sprays.  I mixed a variety of colors together and used them on the background of the card and for the feathers.

The feathers were die cut from the backgrounds and then staggered on the headdress.  The headdress was also bowed outwards to give space to overlap on the skull.

The other background was made with the textured fade cracked embossing folder with a mix of mica stain sprays to give the beautiful golden brown background. 

I hope you enjoyed the scare! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Sizzix Tim Holtz Feathery
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Texture Fade - Cracked
  
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz The Obscure 
• Ranger Distress Mica Halloween Stain #5
• Ranger Distress Mica Halloween Stain #4
• Ranger Distress Mica Holiday Stain #3
  
• Stampers Anonymous - Halloween Tiny Text
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
• Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black
• Ranger Archival Ink - Olive
• Prima Marketing Spring Crystal
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Branches and Spiders
  

Fall Colors

Hi!  I love fall!  The colors are beautiful as if the trees were changing their outfits to highlight the weather change.  At The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave we are highlighting fall colors. 

When The Funkie Junkie Boutique sends you your goodies, they always include a little packet of something fun!  I love those little surprises and I always keep the glassine bags they come in.  I used those as my starting point for my fall colors inspiration.

I have to admit I am in love with the Mica Stain sprays.  I embossed the glassine bags using the new Tim Holtz Cracked texture fade folder to emboss the bags.   Then I spritzed the bags with a mix of the Mica Stain Sprays #5 (Unravelled, Fallen Acorn) to add my fall colors.  I also used the Mulled Cider in addition to the Fallen Acorn to color the ribbons and twine.

After the bags were embossed,  I took the various bird dies and slipped them inside of the glass bag and put the die cut facing up.  Then I ran the die through the cutting machine.  I ended up with a series of bags with different bird cut outs.  I wanted my bags to still function as a gift bag, so I cut out sheets of acetate to attach to the inside of my bag.   

After the bags were ready then it was a matter of finding other accents to embellish the goody bags.

A die cut wreath spritzed with the mica stains along with various flowers, mummy cloth and stamped sentiments added layers and interest.

I love the shimmer and how pretty the gift bags are and they are ready to be filled with halloween treats! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Sizzix Tim Holtz Cracked Texture Fade
  
• Ranger Distress Tim Holtz Mica Stain Sprays Holiday #5 
• Stampers Anonymous - Tiny Text
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Mummy Cloth
• Idea-Ology - Tim Holtz Wood Slices 
• Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink
  
• Glassine Bags
• Sizzix Dies - Mischievous (the birds dies are out but these cats would be so fun on these gift bags)
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Halloween Bubbles
  

Cut it Out!

 Hi!  The Funkie Junkie Boutique Inspiration Ave is focusing on the cool new Sizzix Tim Holtz Die Cuts!  I had a little fun creating some Halloween cards with the new die cuts! 

I love when the trick or treat starts and all the kids run around in their costumes!  These adorable kids out trick or treating was very fun to play with.

I wanted to highlight them with a little color behind them with a watercolor pencil.  I also added some white lines on the black backdrop to give them movement. 

I paired them with a stamped background to give them a backdrop to shine against.  After I tried that I needed a little moonshine to help them on their way!   A sponged moon with Mr. Owl watching over them set the perfect scene! 

In my second card I used the Boo die cut as a mask and sponged all over it to create a background.

After the background was sponged I stamped over in the same pretty die ink to give it texture.  I then used the cute witch in my die cut Halloween!

You can see I even used a little splattering of the new mica stain sprays over the background! 

For my final card I mixed and matched the two dies 

The background was stamped and sponged to coordinate with the Boo die cut.  I layered it onto the background die but cut out the letters to highlight the background. 

The new dies are fun and have me inspired for the cooler fall weather! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Sizzix Tim Holtz Big Frights
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits Halloween Night
• Sizzix Thinlits Dies - Alphanumeric Theory
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Poisonous
  
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Wilted Violet
• Ranger Seasonal Mica Stain Sprays #6
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Squeezed Lemonade
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Carved Pumpkin

By the Numbers

 The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Avenue is focused on numbers and how they can be inspiring!  The numbers had me cutting out numbers, stacking numbers and looking for numbers in patterned papers.

I spent time using left over pieces of cardboard in various depths to cut out multiple sizes and quantities of different numbers.  I made sure I had enough of each number to stack at least 3 of each number.

I taped together the numbers to provide a series of stacked numbers.  Then the numbers were layered and placed randomly over the back of the card base.

The next background used a singles of each number and randomly placed across the backdrop.  Then the background was painted with white acrylic paint.

After a couple of white acrylic paint coats were applied and dried a mix of mica stain sprays were used to apply a shimmery background effect.

This background used a mica stain spray and the antique bronze distress stain spray.  The paint itself provided a layer of texture to the background.

This background used the merry mint along with a distress stain spray to give a mixed patina of green with brown hints.  

The card  used the Halloween backdrops from Tim Holtz to provide the numbers. 

The inspector was stamped using archival ink and then highlighted with color using watercolor pencils.  A remnant background piece spritzed with distress stains was added to layer in a different effect.  A piece of rusty metal (found in a parking lot) was added in the background.  A variety of metal numbers were embossed in gold and added to layer in.  The Inspector's hat got a final touch with a stamped metal piece. 

Thanks for dropping by!

Suzz

Products:

• Stampers Anonymous - The Inspector
• Stampers Anonymous - Correspondence
• Stampers Anonymous - Tiny Text
  
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Halloween Backdrops
• Ranger - Embossing Powder - Gold
• Ranger Distress Holiday Mica Stain Spray #1
• Ranger Distress Holiday Mica Stain Spray #4
  
• Versamark Watermark Ink 
• Archival Jet Black Ink 
• Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Ground Espresso
• Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Tarnished Brass 
• Sizzix Alphanumeric Theory
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Bulletin Alphanumeric Dies
  

Floral Trims

 Hi! I love coloring and the new Stampers Anonymous Floral Trims gave me the chance to play around with coloring in the flowers.  I know I have shared before the various ways to color stamps but I thought it would be fun to create a series of tags using the same stamp, layout and color scheme but vary the mediums. 

I spent some time stamping the image on different paper types using the same archival ink.  I then pulled out my copic markers, watercolor markers, 2 types of watercolor pencils and my distress ink pads.  I had on hand my waterbrushes to use for the various mediums.

The first tag using the watercolor markers.  A good stamping friend taught me her method of coloring the images watercolor marker and I have to admit it is one of my favorite techniques.

I used watercolor paper for this image and stamped the image with archival ink.  Anything permanent and resistant to water is the important thing to remember with all of these painting/coloring techniques. 

To color this image I started with the darkest color in the middle and then used the waterbrush to spread the color outwards.  I repeated to get the shading where needed.  Then I highlighted the center with a white gel pen.

On the next tag I used plain cardstock. (The watercolor cardstock would have worked just as well ore even better.)

This was painted with distress inks smeared on the acrylic mat and then the ink was picked up on the waterbrush and painted over the surface.  I repeated with multiple colors to get more of a softer muted effect. 

For the next image I used watercolor pencils.  I love using pencils as you can control the placement and intensity of the colors when first applied.

This was stamped on white cardstock.  It would also work well on the watercolor paper.  The watercolor paper usually has more texture and can sometimes cause the stamp to ink as clearly.  I like to use the plain cardstock unless I need more water on the medium.  

I colored the areas I wanted to shade in and then used the waterbrush to soften and blend the shading.  I will wait until it dries and then come back in with more shading to get a deeper color in the shaded areas.  

I had a new set of Ranger Distress Watercolor Pencils and I used them on my next stamped image.  Again this is on white plain cardstock. 

The main difference on this image is I had less choices in my colors as I had limited pencils. But I used the same technique to shade in the areas of color and use the waterbrush to soften the edges.

For my last two tags I used Copic Markers to color the images.  There is a slight difference in the two images and it has to do with the cardstock.  The first one was a sheet of cardstock I found in my drawer and it is one that can be used for Copic markers but it didn't blend as well as I would have liked.

To get the movement you need to blend the colors you need a paper that will allow the ink to seep and blend.  I went out and purchased a special paper intended for Copic Markers and tried a second version which blended and mixed the colors much better.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of coloring with the new Floral Trims!

Suzz

Products: 

• Stampers Anonymous Floral Trims
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Villainous Potion
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Forest Moss 
• Ranger Distress Ink - Ground Espresso
• Ranger Distress Ink - Crushed Olive
• Ranger Watercolor Pencil Set #1
• Ranger Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper  
• Tim Holtz Detail Waterbrush
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Kraft Black Cardstock 
  
• Ranger Distress Markers - Seedless Preserves
• Ranger Distress Markers - Crushed Olive
• Ranger Distress Markers - Worn Lipstick
• Ranger Distress Markers - Shabby Shutters
• Ranger Distress Markers - Vintage Photo
• Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black
• Copic Markers - 0, V15, V17, BV02, YG03, YG25, G94 
• White Gel Pen

Get Ready to Travel!

Hi!  I am sharing a post for the Funkie Junkie Boutique Inspiration Ave on travel!  This past month has been a bit hectic with a little bit of roadtrip fun.  It had me thinking about traveling the world and postcards! 

I worked on a card and multiple postcards.  I shared the front and backs of the postcards.

I mixed in some stamping along with a touch of die cuts.  I love postcards because they are all stamping!

For the cardbase: 

Mask the top and bottom of the card with washi tape.  Sponge blue dye ink over the open cardstock.  Cut out the globe from white cardstock.  Sponge the globe with various shades of green dye ink. Splatter the surface of the inked areas to create water spots.  

Stamp the air mail and  stamp images using the same dye inks from the globe and background. Cut the stamped images out and distress the edges.  Stamp the sentiment with black ink and cut out.  Ink the edges of the sentiment with the blue dye ink.  Ink the edges of the snapshot with the green dye ink.  Attach the stamped images with a clip. Assemble the card.

Now you have a fun little adventure and travel card ready to go for someone ready to embark on a trip! 

For my next projects I created a variety of postcards.  I used various stamps on 3 1/2 x 5" postcard bases

For the next postcard:

Stamp the image on the left side with black archival ink.  If you are planning on sending a postcard I always try to use water resistant ink.  If you use a dye ink you can cover it with clear embossing powder or a sealant.  Stamp the postcard stamp across the side of the image leaving the right side open for the address.

On the flip side the images were all stamped in the same black archival ink and a few lines to write a note were drawn using a permanent marker.  

The next postcard using the soft tan ink with a hint of watercolor pencil to accent. 

Stamp the image with Pebble Beach Archival Ink.  Stamp strip down the center by masking the stamp and inking and then removing the mask and stamping in center of postcard.  Stamp Postal Card across top with same ink.

Stamp the image with light brown ink and add accents with watercolor pencil.  Stamp sentiment along right side. 

For the back of the postcard the globe was die cut and applied to the postcard.  The edge was covered with washi tape and the sentiment stamped along the edge.  The address stamp was masked on the stamp with post it notes and then inked up.  Then then the post it notes were removed and the word address was stamped on the right side.  

The front of the post card is a snapshot and a few stamps were stamped over the image to add some travel vibes. 

For my final postcard the Inspector is peeking over the edge.

Stamp the inspector using black archival ink.  Mask the inspector with a second stamped image of him cut out and placed over the original stamped image.  Ink up the circle stamp and stamp over the masked image.  Then layer in the other stamps using the blue, black and brown inks.  Finish with sponged archival ink around the edges.  Flip the postcard over.

Stamp the images using archival black ink an the plan with the blue dye ink. Sponge the endges with the brown dye ink.  Draw a line down the center with black permanent marker.  Distress the background with some inky smudges using brown archival ink. 

I hope this has you thinking of travel plans! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - The Inspector
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Correspondence
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Eccentric
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Tiny Text 
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Exquisite 
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - Uncharted Mariner
• Ranger Distress Ink - Ground Espresso
• Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black, Pebble Beach
• Ranger Distress Ink - Forest Moss
• Ranger Distress Ink -  Crushed Olive
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Snapshots
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs Eccentric