Guest Designer - Alison Bomber

Please welcome our Guest Designer for the Sew Sweet challenge.  Ailson Bomber (a.k.a. Butterfly) from Words and Pictures was the top pick from the Little Things challenge.

Hello all. I’m delighted to be here as a guest today on one of my all-time favourite challenge blogs.

In my "day job", I work as a Text and Voice Coach in the theatre, and I've been a fairly obsessive crafter since 2012. I love mixing this newer visual creative playground with my lifelong love of words, hence the name of my blog, Words and Pictures. I love mixed media work, with lots of layers and techniques, but sometimes some simple inking and stamping is enough to make me happy.

For the Sew Sweet challenge here at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog I've created a tag in vintage style, with a lovely PaperArtsy dress form hovering in the mixed media background amongst the embossing powders, paint, inks and oxides. The needle threader is also a PaperArtsy stamp, embossed and fussy cut, and with some real cotton actually threaded through it. Do come and see the rest of the sewing ephemera and embellishments over at my blog.

I have to confess that this theme was a challenge for me. I'll happily turn my hand to almost any handicraft before sewing. Give me mixed media or ceramics, woodwork and metalwork. Sewing machines break when I sit down at them. But I do love the look of stitching on a papercraft project, so the words on the tag reflect my determination never to give up... even with sewing!

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Once you have checked out the details of Alison's tag, come on back and share your sewing-themed creation with us. The challenge can be found HERE and is open through 11:55 pm EDT on Tuesday, May 12th.

Sew Sweet

Hi there, Cec here and I am bringing you the new challenge here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. I am calling it 'Sew Sweet' and here is how I describe it:

Create a shabby chic or vintage project with a sewing theme incorporating items and/or images related to sewing - think rubber stamps of sewing machines or dress forms e.g., fabric, pattern tissue and even notions such as buttons, zippers, thread, etc.

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.

As always, our Design Team have created some fabulous inspiration for you. To get all the details on their projects, just click on their blog name and you will be taken directly to their blog.

Cec Wintonyk - CW Creations

Maggi Harding - Scrap, Travel & Bark!


Sara Emily Barker - sarascloset

Suzanne Czosek - Suzz's Stamping Spot

Jenny Marples - Pushing The Right Buttons

Now that you have checked out all the fabulous details, I hope you will join in on the challenge with your own sewing-themed creation.

Saturday Showcase - Sizzix Zoo Friends by Olivia Rose

Happy Saturday to you all!  Suzz here.  I am sharing a Saturday Showcase featuring the adorable animals from the new Sizzix Zoo Friends dies.

We have a new addition to the extended family who is planning to arrive in June.  There was a lovely baby shower planned for April which unfortunately was cancelled due to the events we are all facing right now.  That didn't stop us from ordering the gifts and planning a surprise for the mom and dad to be.  They set up outside on the porch a surprise shower with all the gifts placed there for them to pick up and open later.

These gifts were wrapped inspired by the sweet animals found in the zoo friends.

I created with creating a tower of giraffes. (I had fun looking up what groups of animals were called!) first started with creating groups of cats:

 

The giraffes were cut from papers, left over ledger sheets and plain white cardstock.  

With every pass you get a clowder of cats: 

  

Then there was my herd or parade of elephants: 

 

I have to admit the elephants had me playing with their herd the most.  I spent some time adding rosy cheeks and coloring in the ears.  The little hearts and circle cut outs make adorable water spray for the elephants.  

I also had lots of beautiful Koala's which I learned like to live individually so they are typically just called a colony.  

Once I had all these different animals cut and ready to use, I started looking for things I had on hand to wrap the presents.  I pulled out all my stored pieces of kraft and scrap papers given to me when buying fragile items or from packages used for protection. 

 

For my giraffes I used some off white scrap paper and wrapped the present first.

 

I then used a stencil and sponged the yellow starry background.  

The giraffes all received a sponging of yellow dye ink over a white cardstock.  The circles were sponged with blue ink and placed randomly over the giraffe.  The edges of the giraffe were sponged with brown dye ink. 

I found a very old die for a bird on a tree branch and die cut several trees. I sponged it to coordinate with the polka dots.  The grass is fringe died with a bit of green and brown.  

I finished the top with a sweet sentiment stamped with the same blue dye ink.

 Next up was a happy little Koala sitting in the tree:

 I wrapped this with some leftover kraft paper.  After it was wrapped I placed the stencil over the top and sponged on the purple distress oxide ink.  I repeated the pattern until the top was covered.

Next I took another branch and sponged it with blue oxide dye ink.  The Koala was sponged with a mix of purple and blue inks.  The ears were sponged with pink ink.

To get the pieces to adhere they had to be heat set to take the moistness out of the ink.  The sentiment was stamped using archival ink.

Next up was my elephant parade celebrating the baby shower.

I wrapped the present up with some more off white paper.  The elephants were die cut from white cardstock and sponged to a blue gray color.  I accented with the die cut ears and circles.  They were sponged with pink ink.

The background was a mix of blue and purple oxide inks over a mini stencil.

They elephants were all asked to carry a series of banners.  They were lucky enough to be be parading on some fancy glitter and shiny elements.

Next up was one little elephant sharing his love by blowing heart bubbles.. 

I was lucky enough to find this soft print on an old paper bag from a store.  I cut it up and wrapped the box.  I then die cut the elephant from a patterned paper.  I highlighted his ears and cheeks with a touch of watercolor pencils.  The edges were sponged with blue and black die ink.

It was simple to finish off with some crystals, a little fringe and a stamped sentiment.

My final project was a simple tag for a future gift.

This was sponged using a layering stencil.  The elephant was sponged with a distress oxide ink and then stamped with a stamp inked up with distress embossing ink.

The bottom fringe is mummy cloth just taped down in layers.

I will share the picture of the packages piled up with all the other gifts on the back porch:

I hope this has you thinking of creative ways to share with your friends in families while we are all staying home!

Keep safe!

Suzz

Products:
Sizzix Chapter 2 Thinlits Dies - Zoo Friends Oliva Rose
Stamperia - Imagine 12x12
Stamperia - House of Roses 12 x 12
Stamperia - Sea World
Stampers Anonymous - Tiny Text
Mini Layering Stencils - Typo
Ranger Layering Stencil Baubles
Ranger Layering Stencil - Ringer
Ranger Layering Stencil - Sparkle
Idea-Ology Mummy Cloth 
Ranger Distress Oxide Spray - Peeled Paint
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink - BluePrint Sketch,  Twisted Citron, Broken China,  Salty Ocean, Dusty Concord, Fossilized Amber, Worn Lipstick
Ranger Distress Ink - Black Soot, Broken China, Stormy Sky
Ranger Archival Ink - Cobalt 
Prima Marketing Watercolor Pencils 
Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Fringe
Memory Box - Baby, Welcome Little One, It's a Boy
Impression Obsession Stamp - Baby Blessing

Challenge Winners - April Showers Bring May Flowers

It is time to announce our winners for the 'April Showers Bring May Flowers' challenge. Thank you to all who entered and played along with your beautiful floral projects. The Design Team thoroughly enjoyed seeing them all.

After much deliberation the team has chosen these wonderful ATC's by #13 Lisa Hoel (Creative Juice) as the overall winner. We loved how she'd covered the case in April Showers and filled the Accordion Tiny Book inside with those May Flowers - make sure to check out how they came together on her blog here.

Congratulations to Lisa on winning an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. You will be contacted shortly 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 Veana R #4 Alison Bomber (Words and Pictures) and #8 Laura Vi (Vive la Vi).

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 Lisa K Creative Life! Please email Linda at thefunkiejunkie@gmail.com for the gift certificate details.

Thank you again to everyone who took part in this challenge from all of us here at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog  and congratulations to all our winners.

The current challenge 'A Mother's Love' can be found HERE and runs through Tuesday, April 28th at 11:55 pm EST so we hope you will join us.

Saturday Showcase - Graphic 45's New Staples and the Farmhouse Collection

Good morning everyone, Maggi here today to showcase the amazing Farmhouse Collection from Graphic 45 and some of their new Staples items!  This collection is done in my favorite colors, black, red and ivory with some gold thrown in for fun, 😉 right?

YOu are going to love the new dies from Graphic 45.  I was so excited wen I saw them!  They really are the perfect accompaniment for you projects.

I have lots of photos to show you today so get comfy and let's take a look at these brand new items from Graphic 45.  By the way, The Funkie Junkie Boutique carries a great assortment of Graphic 45 so be sure to stop by the store.

First up, I made a little book that would work as a card or a small mini album.  It is so cute at 4" x 5 1/2".

I made the base for this using the new G45 folder die.  I am so excited to see this die, just think of the possibilities like folders for mini album pockets, folders with hidden journaling inside, there are so many things you could do with this.

I cut 4 folders from red cardstock and glued two folder backs together.  Then, I glue another folder to that, matching the fronts and then one more folder matching the backs again so that it looks like this. 

Next I adhered washi tape over the spine just to hold it together nicely and give it a finished look.

On the front of the book I adhered a black piece of paper from the Patterns and Solids Pad and over that I adhered the checked design paper from the 8 x 8 pad.  The pretty scrolled frame with the chicken, pig and cow  and the Friends sentiment are from G45's Die Cut assortment which is something new that G45 has been doing with their last several collections.  There are so many great die-cuts in the assortment.  I was so glad to see that addition to their line up of products!

Flip the page and I've done a greeting page using die-cut and stamped sentiments, both new Staples!  I love these so much. There's a whole collection of mix and match sentiments for stamping and die-cutting. 

I love the script on the die-cuts and stamps.  I used my Tim Holtz stamp platform to get a perfect stamp on some design paper and then cut it out and glued to the page.

On the right side, I folded an ephemera card in half and glued it to the face of the right page.

Now I took the next two pages and glued them together creating a pocket on the left side.  I made a policy envelope with the new Policy and Decorative Dies Set to slip inside the pocket.  You can see the top of the policy envelope inside the pocket on the 2nd photo down.

The photo corners on the top right page were die-cut with a die in the Policy and Decorative Die Assortment.

Don't you just love the policy envelope? It's such a great size for holding a gift card or money.  

Policy envelope die-cut.  The die not only cuts the envelope, but it also scores on the fold lines.

One more set of pages.  On the left side I used design papers and pennants from the Die Cut Assortment.  On the right, I used design paper and the back side of an ephemera card.

The back of the book is embellished with a pocket watch embellishment from the Die Cut Assortment and a lace die cut from the Policy and Decorative Dies Set. 

Now let's switch gears...

Recipe Mini Book

I made this mini to be a recipe book. I think the Farmhouse Collection is so perfect for recipe books and kitchen fun.   To make the cover I used just the signature page from the  8 x 8 pad and some fussy cut images that popped up with foam tape.  I used a Cinch machine to bind the mini.

Inside front cover - design paper and a tag from the Die Cut Assortment.  The interior pages are just blank cardstock and are large enough to hold a 4 x 6 recipe card.  I think I will just glue the recipe cards in place as I collect them.

Though you can't tell from the photo, this page has a pocket where you could slide blank recipe cards.

Back of the mini.

I think you'll love this sweet collection and I hope I've given you some ideas. It fits so well with the current farmhouse decorating craze. The Funkie Junkie Boutique carries the full line of Farmhouse products as well as many many other great crafting products!

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Graphic 45 - Farmhouse - 8x8 Collection

Graphic 45 - Farmhouse - 12x12 Patterns & Solids

Graphic 45 - Farmhouse Die Cut Assortment

Graphic 45 - Farmhouse Ephemera and Journaling Cards

Graphic 45 Staples - Policy and Decorative Dies 

Graphic 45 Staples - Folder and Sentiment Dies

Graphic 45 Staples - Sentiment Stamps

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Black Soot

Grafix Chipboard-medium

Other Supplies

Black Cardstock

Bazzill Red Rocks Cardstock

Zutter 1" O wire

Graphic 45 Washi Tape

Guest Designer - Cassandra DeGrace

Please welcome our Guest Designer for A Mother's Love challenge.  Cassandra DeGrace of Scrap Savvy Creations was the top pick from the Aquamarine challenge.

Hi all! Cassandra here today, delighted to be sharing a shabby chic card with you as a guest for the Funkie Junkie challenge. I was excited when I learned that Sara Emily's theme for this challenge was A Mother's Love... perfect for a shabby play with Prima pretties (lol...yes, I am fond of alliteration... that's the primary teacher in me!).

I love to upscale and find ways to reuse or re-purpose things in my creations. You might be surprised to learn that I created the lock embellishment from a recycled coffee holder tray. You'll find how-to step out instructions on my blog here.

I really enjoy learning and trying out different things and I tend to create for the art of it; whether it be card making, ATCs, art journaling, or scrapbooking. I blog over at Scrap Savvy Creations and share my art on IG at @scrapsavvy. I range from CAS to messy mixed media creating across an eclectic mix of styles using different media.If it is as they say... that "variety is the spice of life"… then I like it SPICY!

It was such a pleasure to make this card and I want to thank the design team for having me join in. I hope you all enjoyed my take on the challenge and that it inspires you to get messy and create.

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We hope you enjoy the details of Cassandra's lovely shabby card.  Once you have checked out her blog, please come on back and share your creation for the challenge.  It can be found HERE and runs through 11:55 pm EDT on Tuesday, April 28th.

A Mother's Love

Welcome to a new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique blog! It's Sara Emily here, and I've named my challenge "A Mother's Love". Here's the brief:

"A mother's love can mean so many different things to different people. With this challenge I invite you to take some time to reflect on what it means for you and create a vintage or shabby chic project for your mother or a special woman in your life to let them know how much you love them. Be sure your project has the word "love" somewhere on it where it will be noticed."

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.

The Design Team has created some wonderful projects to get you started. To see how they have paid tribute to the special ladies in their lives and to see all the details of their projects, just click on their blog name to be taken directly to their blog.

Maggi Harding - Scrap, Travel & Bark

Cec Wintonyk - CW Creations

Jenny Marples - Pushing The Right Buttons

Sara Emily Barker - sarascloset

Suzanne Czosek - Suzz's Stamping Spot

After you have checked out these amazing projects, we hope you will come on back and share your own 'A Mother's Love' projects with us using the link below. We can't wait to see what you make celebrating those special women in your life. Happy crafting!