Guest Designer - Maria Calderone

It is time to introduce our Guest Designer for the All in the Family challenge.  Please say hello and welcome to Maria Calderone of Maria Lina's Creative Designs.  Maria was the Top Pick for the Let the Words do the Talking challenge.

"Hi my name is Maria Calderone and it’s been such a great honor to be the guest designer for today’s challenge, thank you Linda and the design team for having me on.

I’ve been living in the wonderful state of Pennsylvania for 10 years now, but I was born and raised in New Jersey. I am happily married to my husband Danny, I have 4 boys, twins who live at home and my 2 older boys who live out of state, we also have a pup named Dallas.

I love creating and designing anything I can get my hands on, I started out as a paper crafter in 2012 and have progressed since and love it…my favorite way to create is with altered art/mixed media. My style is very eclectic, but I tend to lean more towards vintage shabby chic, I truly enjoy creating anything from cutesy to vintage to Steampunk and grunge and I will always welcome a challenge!"

"I decided to make a vintage “Family” mini album. I think it’s a great way to incorporate everything in the challenge and then some. This is album will be used for journaling and photos… past and present for family, home, traditions, history, etc. This will be something I will surely treasure for years to come, not to mention a wonderful treasure to pass down to younger generations."

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To get more details about Maria's gorgeous album, pop over to her blog and then come on back and show us your creation for the All in the Family challenge. You have lots of time as it doesn't end until 11:55 pm EST on July 12, 2016.

June Shipping Sale at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

Saturday Step by Step: Steampunk Mirror

Hello!! Welcome to the Frilly and Funkie Blog and the Saturday step by step! It's Nancy today. Y'all know I'm a frilly girl by nature. My projects always feature pretty papers, bows, and pearls. Today I'm breaking loose and trying something a little bit frilly AND a little bit funkie. We can blame the amazing ladies on funkie team for this. I've been seduced by the funkie side! 

It all started with this flea market hand mirror and a pile of Prima metals and findings from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. 

Two coats of Prima Heavy Gesso are applied to the mirror. Stippling the gesso on the face of the mirror adds a textured effect. Once the mirror is dry I have an opportunity to play around with the metal embellishments for a general idea of where I will place a sentiment stamp. 

Next the metals get a coat of Prima Heavy Gesso and are set aside to dry. I forgot to take a photo of this step, but applying gesso and watching it dry is a little tedious, so I'm thinking you'll forgive me. 

Now for some fun! Several Tim Holtz Distress Stains and Lindsay's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays provide gorgeous color. I just spray randomly until I like the way it looks, working from lightest to darkest. The stains take on a less vibrant tone as the pieces dry. I'm loving purple and green right now. I'll leave a full list of all the stain colors at the bottom of the post. 

The sentiment is embossed using Lindsay's Stamp Gang embossing powder. The color in the jar appears purple, but surprisingly it is more of a burgundy on the project. While working with the mirror, most of the 'u' in the word 'you' chipped off. My choices are to start over or live with the chipped letter. I'm letting go of perfectionism (just this once!) and living with it. 

All of the stains I used are water reactive, so it's necessary to add a protective barrier with Ranger Multi Medium Matte. Even the moisture from the Multi Medium moves the color around a bit. It's no problem. Just pick up some of the desired stain on a brush along with some Multi Medium and touch up the areas that need it. Once the Multi Medium is applied the colors appear bolder, more the way they look when they are wet. 

With everything colored, stamped, and sealed, the metals can be arranged and glued down. Ranger Multi Medium Matte works perfectly for adhering most of the embellishment. I had to use a hot glue gun for a couple really stubborn pieces. Below are photos of the final arrangement and completed project. 

Thank you so much for stopping by to take a peek at my altered mirror! It's a departure from my usual style, but has been so very fun to create. I wish you a day of sunshine, happiness, and delightful crafty endeavors! 

Hugs, 

Nancy 

Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios 9.5" Titanium Scissors	Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap	Ranger Multi Medium Matte 4 oz.
Prima Art Basics - Heavy Gesso - White 17 fl. oz. (March Pre-Order)	Prima Art Basics Double-Sided Texture Brushes Set 1 - 3 pcs 63873 (March Pre-Order)	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain - Wilted Violet	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Stormy Sky	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Bundled Sage
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Seedless Preserves	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Dusty Concord	Lindy′s Stamp Gang Starburst Mist 2oz Bottle - My Mojito Green	Lindy′s Stamp Gang Starburst - Haunted Halloween Set	Prima Metals for Wood Plaque 8 (4 pcs) (March Pre-order)
Prima Metals for Wood Plaque 9 (2 pcs) (March Pre-order)	Prima Marketing Mechanicals: Steampunk Gears 10pc. (March Pre-order)	Prima Marketing Mechanicals: Rustic Washers 7pc. (March Pre-order)	Antiqued Bronze Metal Time Flies Key for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media	Copper Metal DREAM Keys for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media
5 Piece Butterfly Set Filigree Metals for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media	4 Piece Butterfly Set Filigree Metals	Bronze Metal Roses for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media	6 Piece Large Antique Bronze Flower Filigree Pieces	4 Piece Antiqued Bronze Round Flower Filigree Pieces
5 Piece Antiqued Bronze Tone Flower Charm	Set of 8 Bronze Gears	4 Piece Antiqued Bronze Round Filigree Pieces