Guest Designer - Zowie Dixon

Say hello and give a warm welcome to our Guest Designer for the current 'Back to Nature' challenge. This is Zowie Dixon of Crafts From the Fairy Den and she was the top pick from the "B" Happy challenge.

Hello my name is Zowie and I am so thrilled and honoured to be here as the Guest Designer for the 'back to nature' challenge!

I started crafting around eight years ago, with just scrapbooking. For the last few years though, I have developed a love for vintage and shabby chic crafts, alongside mixed media and collage art too! Tim Holtz is one of my favourite designers, and I use a lot of his products in my artwork. I also like to use vintage photographs in my craft projects, I am quite sentimental and always wonder what stories those people in the photos would have to tell.

My design was made using various papers from Maja Design and lemon craft. I wanted to capture a real feel of nature on my tag so I used this wonderful bird image and earthy colour tones.

I distressed all layers using Tim Holtz Walnut Stain distress ink.

I have used a Tim Holtz Bingo embossing folder on the top layer of paper and I also tore the edges.  The paper was quite thin, which made the fibres break down a little, but the end result gave more of an old and worn distressed look, which I was happy with.

To complete the final look, I used a grunge background stamp along with Black Soot distress ink, which I applied onto the main image. I also have used the Tim Holtz Holiday Greens die set to use as a natural element and I printed out the words 'go where you feel most alive' and adhered those to the bottom of the tag.

I really enjoyed creating this vintage tag. Please visit my blog for more photos and details.

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When you have finished checking out all the details of Zowie's tag, come on back and share your project for our 'Back to Nature' challenge. You have lots of time to create since the challenge, which can be found HERE, runs until 11:55 pm EST on Tuesday, August 28th.

In the meantime, don't forget to visit us on Saturday when one of our designers will have a fabulous Saturday Showcase to inspire you.  And, if you need more inspiration for the challenge come back next Wednesday and see what the gals on the Funkie side of the Design Team have created.

Back to Nature

Welcome fellow crafters and visitors! It's Sara Emily here today, happy to bring you our current challenge, 'Back to Nature'. Having just returned from our annual trek to the mountains of West Virginia where we observed so much natural beauty on our hikes, I couldn't help but make my challenge nature themed. You can make anything you like, from a card or tag to altered art, just be sure to include a natural element in your vintage or shabby chic project. Think real twigs, leaves, shells, pebbles. Or you could include a die cut or a stamped or stenciled image representing a natural object.

The winner will earn the chance to be a Guest Designer here at Frilly and Funkie, 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. We are also awarding Top 3 Badges for three further outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team, because we can't pick just one favorite!

The guidelines for entering are simple; create a new vintage or shabby chic project following the challenge theme, link it below to your post (not just your blog) and also include a link back to this challenge in your post. You can combine our challenge with up to 10 challenges (including this one) to be in with a chance of winning. If you are entering through a public forum (such as Instagram) you'll need to include the words Frilly and Funkie Challenge. Also, please be sure to turn off your Word Verification so our Design Team can leave comments on your blogs. Make sure you follow these rules as unfortunately we have had to eliminate entrants from the prize draws in the past.

Let's start off with some ideas and wonderful projects from the Frilly side of the Design Team. Click on each photo for a closer look and on the links above to find out more about them.

Maggi Harding - Scrap, Travel, & Bark

Kathy Clement- Kathy by Design

Cec Wintonyk - CW Creations

Now it's your turn to get creative! Enter your nature inspired vintage or shabby chic projects by clicking on the link below. We can't wait to see what YOU will create!

Be sure to stop back tomorrow to see what our latest fabulous Guest Designer has created. And the Funkie Design Team members will be back again next Wednesday with even more natural inspiration! We hope you will be back to check that out, but until then, happy crafting!

Hugs!

Sara Emily

Saturday Showcase: Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland Mixed Media Cards with Distress Oxides, Tim Holtz 3-D Texture Fades and Seth Apter Baked Textures

Hello, Friends! It's time for another edition of Saturday Showcase. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Frilly and Funkie Team to shine a spotlight on techniques and products that can help you take your art adventures to the next level. This week, we are looking ahead to Halloween! What fun!
Most people don't connect Graphic 45 papers with mixed media techniques. But today I am going to show you how to create a really spook-tacular mixed media background using the new Distress Oxide colors from Tim Holtz along with his fabulous new 3-D Texture Fades. Distress Resist Spray and Seth Apter Baked Textures add to the mixed media mayhem. These are the mixed media backgrounds we will be creating in today's SnapGuide Tutorial.

Graphic 45's Halloween in Wonderland is their all time top selling collection. It's traditionally very hard to find. But I have good news for you! Even as I write this post, the Deluxe Collector's Edition is at the printers! You can pre-order this wonderful collection right now at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

These top fold cards measure 5 1/4" x 7 1/4". The mixed media backgrounds take this whimsical G45 collection to a whole new place. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun playing with paper!

The background for each card started with a 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" panel of Distress Mixed Media Heavy Stock. It holds up so well to all the abuse that mixed media requires. I'm not sure another base would turn out so well.

3-D Texture Fades are amazing! I used the Mechanical folder on this card. All the details can be found in the SnapGuide tutorial at the bottom of this post.

Here's a peek at the card interior. A small slash pocket holds an ATC sized accordion folio.

The bottom pocket holds a 4 1/4" x 6 1/4" accordion fold photo folio. The colors in this collection are a fabulous match for the new Distress Oxides! I used Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive, Ripe Persimmon, Ground Espresso, and Dusty Concord in my mixed media backgrounds.

You wouldn't naturally think of using the Botanical 3-D Texture Fade on a Halloween card, but it really came out great! I used Seth Apter Vintage Beeswax and Patina Oxide Baked Textures to add some funk. Seth's Ancient Amber Baked Texture gave both of the Weathered Clock Die Cuts a ghostly hue as well.

The interior of this card has a fun flap feature on the top half.

A hidden pocket holds another ATC sized accordion folio.

And I created another accordion fold folio for the large pocket on the bottom.

To learn how I created the mixed media backgrounds, just follow the simple steps in this SnapGuide Tutorial.

Check out How to Halloween in Wonderland Distress Oxide Background by Kathy Clement on Snapguide.

I hope this post has your creative wheels turning and your fingers itching to get inky! Thanks so much for joining me!

Happy crafting,

kathy

Product Links to the Funkie Junkie Boutique

Halloween in Wonderland	(LATE JULY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Ripe Persimmon	(LATE JULY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Mustard Seed	(LATE JULY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Ground Espresso	(LATE JULY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Dusty Concord
(JULY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Seedless Preserves	(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Wilted Violet	(LATE JULY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Crushed Olive	(MAY PRE-ORDER) Sizzix 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Mechanics	(MAY PRE-ORDER) Sizzix 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Botanical
(MID-JANUARY PRE-ORDER) Seth Apter Baked Texture - Vintage Beeswax	(MID-JANUARY PRE-ORDER) Seth Apter Baked Texture - Patina Oxide	(MID-JANUARY PRE-ORDER) Seth Apter Baked Texture - Chunky Rust	(MID-JANUARY PRE-ORDER) Seth Apter Baked Texture - Ancient Amber	(FEBRUARY PRE-ORDER) Tim Holtz Resist Spray 2oz
TIm Holtz Distress Mixed Media Heavystock TDA53835	Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Autumn	Sizzix Alterations Tim Holtz Weathered Clock BIGZ Die	(FEBRUARY PRE-ORDER) Sizzix Thinlits Rosette Set by Tim Holtz	Ranger Distress Micro Glaze
Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Dust - Vintage Platinum	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot	Sizzix Bigz Die - Hocus Pocus by Tim Holtz	Set of 2 Antique Bronze Clock Brooches With Glass Cabochon Setting	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tag Labels
(February Pre-order)Sizzix Paper Punch - Circle, 3/4", Medium by Tim Holtz	Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams	Tonic Guillotine Comfort Paper Trimmer 8.5" By Tim Holtz 160E	(APRIL PRE-ORDER) Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Black Thread Cutter/Paper Distresser 370E	(APRIL PRE-ORDE) Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Black Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap 7"-Small T817

August

Hi! Suzz here. I am hosting the current challenge and it is inspired by the month of August. In doing a little online research I learned that the month of August was re-named for Augustus Caesar. He was the first Roman Emperor and was very proud of the influence he had on the architecture of the country. For this challenge I am asking you to be inspired by marble, arches or columns. You will need to create a vintage or shabby chic project using some type of marble effect, arches or columns.

The winner will earn the chance of a Guest Designer spot here at Frilly and Funkie, 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. In addition, the Design Team will select three further outstanding entries and those creators will receive a Top Pick badge to display on their blogs!

The guidelines for entering are simple; create a new vintage or shabby chic project following the challenge theme, link it below to your post (not just your blog) and also include a link back to this challenge in your post. You can combine our challenge with up to 10 challenges(including this one) to be in with a chance of winning. If you are entering through a public forum (such as Instagram) you'll need to include the words Frilly and Funkie Challenge. Also, please be sure to turn off your Word Verification so our Design Team can leave comments on your blogs. Make sure you follow these rules as unfortunately we have had to eliminate entrants from the prize draws in the past.

The Funkie side of the Design Team shares more gorgeous art to inspire us all!

 Suzanne Czosek - Suzz's Stamping Spot

Sara Emily Barker - sarascloset

Jenny Marples - Pushing The Right Buttons

Zoe Hillman - iGirlZoe

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WEEK ONE

The Frilly side of the Design Team has provided some beautiful art to inspire us all!

Maggi Harding - Scrap Travel & Bark

Kathy Clement - Kathy by Design

Cec Wintonyk - CW Creations

I hope you are feeling August inspired and come play along with us in the challenge! Link up your shabby chic or vintage project below. Our latest Guest Designer will be here with us tomorrow so make sure you come back for that and next week the Funkie side of the Design Team will share their August projects.

Suzz

Challenge Winners - Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Hi everyone! Today we announce our top picks from the 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' challenge. We loved seeing your wonderful entries incorporating travel in so many ways. Thank you to everyone who took the time to join in the fun.

The Design Team loved seeing the wide variety of travel related projects and finally chose #17 Lucy (Paper Glitter Glue) who shared this wonderful wall hanging. We loved the crackled frame, the spooky background and of course the witch in her upgraded transport. Make sure you check out her post where she shares a full step by step tutorial. Congratulations to Lucy on being our favourite and winning the opportunity to be a Guest Designer here at Frilly and Funkie for a future challenge. You will be contacted shortly with all the details.

And now for the three winners of our Frilly and Funkie Top 3 Badges for this challenge; the choices this time were, in numerical order; #7 Cathy, #13 Helen and #15 Barb. Please email Linda at thefunkiejunkie@gmail.com for the codes for the Top 3 badges so that you can display them proudly on your blog.

And finally we have a randomly chosen lucky winner for the $25 gift certificate to The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Our congratulations this time go to #14 Nancy! Please email Linda at thefunkiejunkie@gmail.com for the gift certificate details.

A big thank you again from the Frilly and Funkie team to everyone who took part in this challenge and congratulations to all our winners. The current challenge, 'August' runs through Tuesday, August 14th and the Design Team will be back here on Wednesday August 8th with some more inspiration for you. We hope to see you entering this time around so that you too can be in with a chance to win.

Have a great week everyone!