You Don't Have to be Irish to be Lucky!

"Aren't We Lucky?" is the theme for this round of makes at The Funkie Junkie Boutique's Inspiration Ave, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the Design Team comes up with on this one! There are so many ways to answer that in crafting! My first thoughts were of the color green, Irish folk, and cloverleaf/shamrocks. If you're game...I'll take you for a scroll and show you what I did!

You can use any favorite adhesive you'd like, but for me, I'm sticking with TH Multi Medium Matte, or Mod Podge Matte. The TH Accordion Folio is SO fun and easy decorate that it's hard to stop, lol! The Accordion Folio consists of a folder and an inside accordion fold out. Both pieces are generous with space and folds to create your own kind of booklet, and complete it with ribbon included for a closure. The price is SPOT ON in VALUE, so I keep a couple on hand now. I'll give you a list of products at the end of this tutorial, but I'm choosing an older TH Collage Tissue roll for just the outside folio. The Funkie Junkie Boutique has some brand-new choices coming in! 

I coated the folio with Mod Podge and then gently rolled the tissue onto it. After smoothing it out to where I wanted it to reach, I gave it a topcoat of Mod Podge, covering both sides for my project to look even. After doing both the Folio folder and the Accordion page, I changed my mind- too much world map- set this Accordion aside and got out another. That's the advantage of always keeping more than one on hand,

as well as having another plan in mind for the one set aside. ;)

While getting out the new Accordion, I 'ran into' some old paper leftover from a 2021 Christmas gift make and just knew it was perfect for what I wanted.

Again, I Mod-Podged, placed, trimmed, Mod-Podged and came up with a totally different Accordion for the inside that was sure to pop how I wanted it to, I used up every bit of that scrap leftover.

I left both to dry overnight before adding anything more to it. During that time, I went ahead and finished up the other Folio  to be used for a future project. Only after it's completely dry, can you fold it back and forth to help crease the paper/Folio. Folding it up before it has completely dried may cause the paper to stick together and tear apart from the Folio when you go to unfold it to finish embellishing. So, this is a 24 hr process if you're using Mod Podge like this. The next day, I got out my sewing machine and a new spool of  bright green thread... and went to town sewing all around, inside, and outside of both pieces. I left cut threads just for the green pop of color.

Here's where I finally got the chance to try out a suggestion from Paula Cheney on her blog, One Lucky Day. (CLICK HERE if you'd like to see her Accordion Folio.) In fact, I tried out more than one thing:

swiping Distress Oxide Ink Pad (Vintage Photo) onto my Craft Sheet, spritzing it with water, then swiping all my chosen TH Ephemera items through it then heat dried all pieces. And Paula was right- aging the ephemera in this way was EASY!

I did the swiping process to every piece I wanted to use in my book, and also used my Blending Tool to pounce on more darker spots onto the middle of the pieces, as well as all around edges. I heat dried each piece and it was all ready to go!

And... another "Paula idea" I finally got to try: using my Distress Mica Spray (Christmas Set: Fresh Balsam) on a TH Stencil Card. I've had my pack of Stencil Cards for some time now, but up to now, just haven't found the perfect thing I wanted to pair it with. This one was just right for my booklet's front cover!

Making the inside cards, tags, and embellishments was like playing in Tim Holtz Land: I had a good assortment in my stash of everything! For this particular element: I added a trimmed TH Snapshot, (all pieces 'aged' as stated previously) then adhered it to an aged piece of cardstock, adding other little TH Ephemera  as well as TH Clippings Sticker Book words. I used a piece of plastic trash, trimming it to the same size as my piece of cardstock shown here, sewed some TH Ephemera  to the plastic and stapling it together at the top. 

No shamrocks around? Not a problem if you've got some TH Alcohol Ink in Patina, a package of Prima Flowers...

...and some green thread twisted with a touch of Glossy Accents to keep it together, and adhered to the backside of the Prima Flower.

Here's your helpful list of links to find what you'll need to make this:

Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents
Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap 7"-Small
Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Black Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap 5"
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Attacher
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Attacher Refills
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Vintage Photo
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Ground Espresso
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Pine Needles
Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink - Espresso
Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink - Patina
(LIMITED EDITION SEASONAL RELEASE) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Holiday Mica Stains Set #3
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Accordion Folio
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Snippets, Number Strips
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Gauge Dials
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Snapshots
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Stencil Chips

Here's the final result...

FRONT

The D is for both Dougherty and Daugherty

The TH Found Relative photos often match with my own family:

these look like they could be ancestors of my Grandbabies.

BACK

Main Inside Pages/Pockets

I've sewn in several ribbons that act as holders for elements.

Pullouts of Main Inside Pages

One of the TH Ephemera pieces acts as a pocket sewn around, but

adhered with Glossy Accents. to hold that TH Found Relative card.

The wording shows only when you lift the plastic.

The mini booklet has space for journaling.

Backsides of Pullouts

They needed a map and a calendar for those early days here in the USA.

Accordion unfolded with Pockets and Ephemera Pullouts

Each band can hold two photos, tags, etc., separately yet together on the same page.

Another Shamrock on the top of the pullout tag.

Pullout items and that precious TH Found Relative!

I can just picture her being one of my own!

Backside of Accordion foldout... looking like a stamped postcard for home.

I'm glad you scrolled down this journey with me, and hope you'll use this Inspiration Ave theme to join us in some crafting fun of your own.  You don't have to be Irish to be lucky!

Be sure to come back often so you can see all the awesome makes following this one from my wonderful Design Teammates!

And don't forget to pop over to The Funkie Junkie Boutique and check out the new products you can be sure will add color and life to your project!

Until next time...

Stay Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!