Challenge Winners - It's The Holidays

Today we announce our final winners of 2019 from the 'It's The Holidays' challenge. Thank you to everyone who shared their beautiful festive projects with us. We were totally spoiled for choice with so many amazing entries.

The team chose this stunning vintage Christmas card by #31 Zowie Dixon (Crafts from the Fairy Den) as our overall winner. We loved the carefully coordinated layers of papers with the vintage image all topped off with a music score poinsettia and kraft pine needles. Make sure to check it out HERE. Congratulations Zowie on being our favourite and winning the opportunity to be a Guest Designer here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog for a future challenge. You will be contacted with all the details.

And now our picks for the three winners of the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog Top 3 Badges for this challenge. In numerical order they are; #7 Ann Chuang (Ann Chuang Crafts) #37 Jacqui Chimes (Jacques Junque) and #44 Elly (Elly's Creaties). 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 we have a randomly chosen lucky winner for the $25 gift certificate to The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Our congratulations this time go to #5 Vicki R (Heartful Validation of Vicki)! Please email Linda at thefunkiejunkie@gmail.com for the gift certificate details. Thank you again from all of us here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog to everyone who took part in this challenge and congratulations to all our winners.

So that's it for 2019 here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog! Thank you to everyone for joining us and sharing your creativity throughout the year. You'll be pleased to know we will be back on January 4th 2020 so make to join us then.

For now, from Linda, her team, and all of The Funkie Junkie Boutique Design Team, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year xxx

Saturday Showcase - Holiday Tags

Welcome to the last Saturday Showcase of 2019 here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. To round off the year the Design Team have all created tags with a holiday theme and each one has it's own tutorial. So this time you get six for the price of one! All the tags are shown below (click on the images to see them up close) together with a link to each of the blog posts that will explain in more detail how they've been made.

Maggi Harding - Scrap, Travel & Bark

Graphic 45's 12 Days of Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas collections and you can still find this Deluxe Collector's Edition in The Funkie Junkie Boutique.   My tags usually feature lots of dimension and layers that I create by using dimensional foam tape between my paper layers. I also like to add diecut layers like the rectangular frame behind the Joeux Noel cut-apart. Join me on my blog for a tutorial on how to make this card. I am really miserly with my paper and I'll show you some ways to use your scraps and save paper!

Cec Wintonyk - CW Creations

I am calling my tag Snowflake Tag as it features a number of the Tim Holtz snowflake dies.  The little snowflakes have been cut from plain card stock and covered in clear glitter while the large snowflake has been cut from Tim's metallic kraft stock.  The background is old music paper that was painted and then textured with texture paste and some silver embossing.  A little seam binding with distress inks and combined with some fun fibers tops the tag off.

Sara Emily - sarascloset

My tag features several products from Linda's shop perfect for Christmas crafting, and I can use them for projects throughout the winter season. I covered a Collage Frame with one of Tim Holtz fabulous retro designs from the Christmas Worn Wallpaper pack and adhered this to a small Etcetera Tag to frame a Tim Holtz Holiday Greetings sentiment.  I used Tim's Radiant 3D Impresslit and Fanciful Snowflakes Thinlits to embellish my snowy scene.  If you would like more details and to see how this goes from being Christmas home decor to a functional gift card holder, please drop by my blog.

Ginny Nemchak - Polly's Paper Studio

I created this quirky and whimsical Christmas tag with layers of the patterned papers from the Stamperia Blue Stars collection.  The image is fussy cut and added with spacers for loads of dimension.  The Antique Gold Mesh ribbon is wrapped around the bottom of the tag for texture. Pretty coordinating Prima flowers create a lovely arrangement when filled in with Die Cut Skeleton Leaves and loopy twine bows. Last but not least a few metal charms and a vintage button are the perfect finishing touch. For a full step out tutorial on this tag please join me on the Polly's Paper Studio Blog. 

Suzanne Czosek - Suzz's Stamping Spot

I was inspired by a cooking challenge where they were asked to create an all white design on their Christmas Baked goods. I love how soft it can look when you mix layers and textures of white. The background is stamped with Versamark and embossed to add a soft layer on the tag. The next layer is a mix of die cut flowers, sentiment, berries and branches. They are accented with a few metallic droplets painted white with a layer of frost. For a few more close ups and details pop on over to Suzz's Stamping Spot. 

Jenny Marples - Pushing The Right Buttons

I've created a set of gift tags by using a patchwork of papers for the background, painting, stencilling and stitching over them before adding stamping and embossing. With stamped seam binding ribbons and brass Christmas themed charms these are now ready to adorn parcels under the tree this year. Find out more about how these came together over on my blog.

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We hope you've enjoyed seeing how these Holiday tags were made. Remember there's still time to link your own Holiday makes to the current 'It's The Holidays' challenge which runs through Tuesday, December 17th to be in with a chance of winning. We'll be back on Monday December 23rd to announce the winners so make sure to join us then.

Challenge Winners - Lovely Leaves

Today we announce our winners from the 'Lovely Leaves' challenge. Thank you to everyone who shared their wonderful projects featuring leaves. We really enjoyed seeing them all.

The team chose this gorgeous set of Thanksgiving cards by #14 Ann Barnes (aksbarchitect CREATES) as our overall winner. The sophisticated design and finish of these cards pays homage to the beauty of Fall foliage.  Make sure to check them out HERE. Congratulations Ann on being our favourite and winning the opportunity to be a Guest Designer here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog for a future challenge. You will be contacted with all the details.

And now our picks for the three winners of the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog Top 3 Badges for this challenge. In numerical order they are; #1 Esther Asbury (Shoregirl's Creations) #6 Elly (Elly's Creaties) and #18 Lyla Larimore (A Chief's Wife's Heart's 'aFire). 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 #3 Donna T (Lakefront Stamping Creations)! Please email Linda at thefunkiejunkie@gmail.com for the gift certificate details.

Thank you again from all of us here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog to everyone who took part in this challenge and congratulations to all our winners. The current challenge, 'It's The Holidays' runs through Tuesday, December 17th and we look forward to seeing your entries!

Have a great week everyone.

Saturday Showcase -- Prima Christmas in the Country and Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas Tokens and Quote Chips

Hello friends and Funkie Junkie Boutique fans. Ginny here to share this week's Saturday Showcase. I'll be sharing how to create dimensional frames with mixed media supplies then using them on 2 cards with different styles.

Here's a schneaky peek of the completed cards. I love that they have similar elements but by changing the background papers I was able to get two distinctly different looks.

I pulled out all my beautiful Funkie Junkie Boutique Christmas Crafting Supplies and came up with my plan to create dimensional frames.  Having all the options gathered in one spot helps me to decide on a design and color scheme. 

I decided that the buffalo plaid patterned paper from the Prima Christmas in the Country 8 x 8 paper pad would be my common element for both cards. I was able to get 2 frames from one sheet.  I cut the rectangles pieces being careful to have the darker blocks around the outside. Next I used a  rectangle die to remove a portion out of the middle to create the frame shape. 

After swiping an anti static pouch over the surface of the paper I stamped the scripty font from the Prima Art Alchemy Stamp #6 by Finnabair in a random pattern around the frame using clear medium. I sprinkled on Liquid Platinum embossing powder from Ranger onto the stamped impressions then heat set it to create a shiny finish.

I added adhesive foam spacers to the back to create the dimension. Faux snow added randomly around the outside edge gives the frames a frosty look.  The frame on the left has the stamping right on the surface without the anti-static powder and it adds to the mottled look of the embossing. I like them both equally. You can decide how much is right for your project.

For the first card I chose the more altered frame. I think it adds a subtle frosty look that helps the frame look more wintry.

This card has a very traditional color scheme. The paper layers come from the 8 x 8 Prima Christmas in the Country Paper Pad. I used red cardstock between the layers to help keep the patterns from looking busy.

The focal image in the frame also comes from that same paper pad. What's more wintry than a big red barn covered in snow? I live out in the country so trust me on this I see them all the time!

Stacked trims are added between the layers to create a textural element. That red trim is simply gorgeous and I wish I had a whole roll just to keep in my stash as decor!

Holiday details come from the Christmas in the Country Ephemera Pack. The wreath is in the frame and the 25 is on the frame adding depth and dimension. I trimmed down the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas Quote chip for a perfect fit then topped it off with pretty flowers and a loopy twine bow.

These flowers are a combination of made by me and ready made flowers from Prima. I've arranged them with die cut foliage for a nice full look. Last but not least is the Idea-olgy Christmas Token and silvery pine cone charm. I've added the Ice Resin Glass Glitter in Antique in Antique Gold for added sparkle.

To change up the look of this card I added a layer of pretty checkered pink paper from the 6 x 6 Prima Dulce Paper Pad and pink polka dot ribbon. Now I have a shabby chic inspired card with the same layout as the first card.

That darker colored frame looks great with the lighter color scheme of this card as the Santa image has a darker outfit and balances perfectly.

Like on the first card I chose a stacked rectangle layout with cardstock to separate the layers. This time I went for a soft dove gray. There is also spacers between the layers for added depth.

This time around I picked images and a sentiment from the Christmas in the Country Chipboard Stickers. That gold foiling is extra festive!

I've also swapped out a dimensional flower for a floral chipboard sticker. A few tiny stars from the ephemera pack are added to the layers.

Since I went outside the actual Christmas collection for the patterned paper I also added some not holiday flowers. These are just sweet and simple pink and white Prima flowers to coordinate with the paper. The same charm arrangement as on the first card are tucked under the flowers for the perfect finishing touch.

I hope this inspires you to create custom dimensional elements to add to your paper crafting.  What better way to get perfectly coordinating add ons that fit just right? Also consider getting all your supplies out to help you come up with unique combinations for a project that's uniquely your style.

Wishing you all a happy and productive day!

Ginny

Links for all products used on these cards from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.....

Prima Christmas in the Country 8 x 8 Paper Pad

Prima Christmas in the Country Chipboard Stickers

Prima Christmas in the Country Ephemera Pack

Prima Christmas in the Country Flowers Christmas Cheer

Prima Dulce 6 x 6 Paper Pad

Prima Dulce Flowers

Prima Art Alchemy Stamp #6 by Finnabair

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas Tokens

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Christmas Quote Chips

Ranger Embossing Powder Liquid Platinum

Ice Resin German Glass Glitter Primrose

Ice Resin German Glass Glitter Antique Gold

May Arts Metallic Antique Gold Mesh Trim

May Arts Wired Ribbon Red Ivory

Antique Silver 3D Pine Cone Charm

Guest Designer - Alison Bomber

Please say hello to our Guest Designer for the last challenge of 2019, Alison Bomber of Words and Pictures.  Alison was the Top Pick from the It Looks Real challenge.

Hello all. I’m delighted to be here as a guest today on one of my all-time favourite challenge blogs. First here’s a little about me, and then we can get on to the important stuff - the crafting!

My creativity was never really on the visual side - I was more the words, music, books, theatre type. When I became a freelancer in Spring 2012 after eight years at the Royal Shakespeare Company as a Text and Voice Coach, it was supposed to give me more time for friends and family. I had no idea that within weeks I would be in thrall to a whole new creative passion - stamps/inks/paints/texture/stencils - you name it, I want to play with it! There's always so much to learn, discover and explore. Now I have to balance the two worlds - hence the name of my blog, Words and Pictures. So much for friends and family…

I love mixed media work, with lots of layers and techniques, but sometimes some simple inking and stamping is enough to make me happy. Given how busy we all are at this time of year, I’ve kept today’s Christmas gift tags pretty simple… and here they are.

I’ve wrapped my Christmas presents in brown parcel paper for years - each year with slightly different decorations. After all, you can’t go wrong with “brown paper packages, tied up with string”, can you? These tags will go on some of my kraft paper packages this year. Winter greenery is my favourite form of Christmas decoration, so that’s what I chose to add to the pre-cut kraft tags, along with some sparkling berries.

The fir branches are all cut using Tim Holtz’s Holiday Greens Mini Thinlits, and some of his glorious seasonal sentiments take pride of place, embossed in bright white powder. It’s all finished off with some snowy splatter and as soon as I’ve bought some presents I can start wrapping them!

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Pop on over to Alison's blog post to check out the details for her tags and then come on back and share your holiday projects with us. The challenge can be found HERE and runs through 11:55 pm EST on Tuesday, December 17th. Don't forget to visit on Saturday when one of our designers will have a new Saturday Showcase with lots to inspire you.

December Craft Box Give-away and Our November Winner

It's time again to draw a winner of our monthly craft box give-away.  Our November winner is Kim H. who will be getting our Christmas-themed box of papercrafting supplies.  Congratulations to Kim and a huge thank you to everyone who entered our drawing.

We have a nice assortment of stamps, embellishments and paint in our December craft box.  You have until December 31st to enter and we will be drawing a winner the first week in January.  Entering is easy!  Just click on the image below to land on our entry page.  Best of luck to all who enter!

The Funkie Junkie December Giveaway!

It's the Holidays Challenge

Hello everyone, Maggi here to host the current challenge at The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog, It's the Holidays.  This is such a busy time of the year that it's hard to find anytime to pursue our paper passion!  With that in mind, I designed a challenge that will hopefully give you some needed crafting time, while making something useful for the holiday season that is upon us! For this challenge, create a vintage or shabby chic card, tag, gift box, bag, anything holiday related, that you can use over the holidays.   That's it, give yourself a break and sneak off to your studio and craft a while!

The winner will earn a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date here 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.

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 'Funkie Junkie Boutique 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.

Our amazing Design Team are here to kick you off with their projects for this challenge. Simply click on their blog names to find out more about their makes.

Maggi Harding - Scrap, Travel & Bark!

Ginny Nemchak - Polly's Paper Studio

Cec Wintonyk - CW Creations

Sara Emily - sarascloset

Jenny Marples - Pushing The Right Buttons

Suzanne Czosek - Suzz's Stamping Spot

Now it's your turn to get creating - we'd love to see your holiday creations. Use the link below to enter and be in with a chance of winning.

Saturday Showcase - How to Make a Slider Easel Card

Hello friends, Maggi here to welcome  you to another Saturday Showcase.  Whew, I am still full from all the goodness that appeared on the table for Thanksgiving.  Which is better, Thanksgiving dinner or all the leftovers?  Ha!  Now that's a question to ponder.

Seriously though, it's the season where we like to honor our friends with handmade cards and gifts so I want to show you how to make a slider easel card.  There are so many great Christmas products in  The Funkie Junkie Boutique to choose from that would make beautiful slider cards, so let's get started!

Slider Easel Cards

We're going to make a slider card that is also an easel card. Below is a YouTube link to a short video showing you how to cut and assemble the basic card using measurements of your choice.

Here are two cards I made to show you and they are different sizes and that's the great thing.  You can easily make the card whatever size you like.

This one is 4 1/2" x 6" and is made from Stamperia Winter Boutique papers.

This one measures 6" x 5 1/4" and is made with Tim Holtz Worn Wallpaper.

The Video

Easy enough right?  

The Finished Card - Details

This is a view of the card folded down.  Even with the flowers, this card is not too bulky and it could be mailed in a padded envelope .  Leave the flowers off or chose a flatter flower and it would easily fit into an envelope.

Many of Stamperia paper collections include circular elements and sentiments.  I've cut out one of each to embellish my card.  They make pretty but quick work out of embellishing!

The flowers I used are some older Petaloo poinsettias that I brushed with Stamperia's Glamour Gel to add a touch of snow and sparkle.  There are some beautiful Prima poinsettias in the Boutique that would work quite nicely!

In this view, you can really see the slide mechanism pulled out so that the easel stands up.

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Stamperia Make a Wish (I used Stamperia Winter Botanic but Make a Wish has similar elements.)

Stamperia Glamour Gel - Sparkling White

Distress Oxide Ink - Fired Brick

Distress Oxide Ink - Frayed Burlap

Distress Oxide Ink - Forest Moss

Scor-Tape 1/8"
Prima Marketing Christmas In The Country Flowers - Christmas Cheer

A Horizontal Slider Easel Card

I made this card in the exact same manner as the one in the video, I just altered my dimensions and instead of leaving a 1/2" border around the slider mechanism, I made a 3/4" border on the sides and a 1" border top and bottom.  Why did I do it that way?  That's just what looked nice to me!

Inside the card I stamped a Christmas sentiment  It is easiest to do this before you assemble, but you do have to take care to get your sentiment where you want it.  Another way to do it, is to stamp the sentiment onto something else, cut out and adhere inside.

A Brief Tutorial

Cut 2 pieces of white cardstock 6" x 5 1/4".  Cut out a flap, as show below, on one of the pieces, on 3 sides leaving a 1" border at top and bottom, and 3/4" on either side. Cut a thumb-notch on the same piece as the flap is cut from.  (I have not yet cut the thumb-notch on the photo below.)

Score the flap at the top at 1", score the bottom of the flap at 1/8".  Score the flap in the center at 2 1/8", measuring from the flap top crease line to the bottom of the flap.  (Watch the video to see how this is done if it seems confusing to you.)

Cut another piece of white cardstock 5 1/4" x 4 1/4".  Adhere this piece to the bottom of the flap.  Be sure to watch the video to see how this is done.

Now glue the flap assembly to the 2nd piece of cardstock that is 6" x 5 1/4" on the sides and bottom only.  The slider should be sandwich between the 2 layers and slide out the top.  At this point you should have the basic card with the slider mechanism working.  Now the fun part, embellishing!

I used Tim Holtz's Christmas Worn Wallpaper to embellish my card. First I covered the flap front and back. I thought that white border was rather stark so I cut strips of design paper 1/2" wide and made a frame around the easel.

The slider is easier to operate if there is some sort of pull on it so I glued on a Christmas token.

To serve as a backdrop for my floral cluster I used Tim Holtz's new Mini Tree Rings Die w/Texture Fade to die-cut a couple of tree rings from Core'dinations cardstock.  Then I sanded, inked and glammed the tree rings up with Stamperia gold and white Glamour Gel.  Then some pretty poinsettias, a tidy bow and pine cone charms finish it off quite nicely, don't you think?

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Tim Holtz Worn Wallpaper

Sizzix Chapter 4 Bigz Die w/Texture Fade - Tree Rings, Mini 

Stamperia Glamour Gel - Gold Dew

Stamperia Glamour Gel - Sparkling White

Tim Holtz Christmas Tokens

Distress Oxide Ink - Walnut Stain

Antique Silver Pine Branch w/ Pine Cone Charms - Set of 3

Scor-Tape 1/8"

Thanks so much for joining me today.  I'm hosting the challenge next week here on The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog and I'm hoping to see some slider cards!

Challenge Winners - Fabulous Fall

Today we announce our winners from the 'Fabulous Fall' challenge. Thank you to everyone who shared their wonderful projects featuring this season. We really loved seeing them all.

The team chose this stunning Thanksgiving table centerpiece by #3 Ann Barnes (aksbarchitect CREATES) as our overall winner. We loved seeing how she transformed this intricate sleigh into such an eye catching home decor ornament complete with it's glorious Fall foliage.  Make sure to check it out in more detail HERE. Congratulations Ann on being our favourite and winning the opportunity to be a Guest Designer here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog for a future challenge. You will be contacted with all the details.

And now our picks for the three winners of the The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog Top 3 Badges for this challenge. In numerical order they are; #4 Tracey (hotchpotchcreations) #16 Lyla Larimore (A Chief's Wife's Heart's 'aFire) and #21 Clareene Forbes (In Reene's Room). 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 #2 Helene Huber (2amscrapper)! Please email Linda at thefunkiejunkie@gmail.com for the gift certificate details.

Thank you again from all of us here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog to everyone who took part in this challenge and congratulations to all our winners. The current challenge, 'Lovely Leaves' runs through Tuesday, December 3rd and we look forward to seeing your entries!

Have a great week everyone.