Thursday, March 13, 2014

Welcome to today's Guest Designer, Julie !

Today we're welcoming Julie of Juliz Design Post, as our Guest Designer. Julie was the DT's chosen winner of the 'Bloomin' Marvellous' challenge. So, let's hear what Julie has to say about herself and also what project she's sharing.


Hi, I’m Julie a.k.a Juliz Design Post from Scotland, UK. I am absolutely thrilled to be showcasing my very first ever GD spot and can’t think of a better way than with Frilly and Funkie. I started blogging a mere 3 months ago, with help from my Husband Chris, who takes all my photos and updates my blog. As a child, my dad worked in the Merchant Navy and we would be lucky enough to go on the Ship for trips with him. Armed with our school books and very little toys, we had to find things to amuse ourselves. I can remember my sister and I being given a pile of A5 card that previously had Menu’s typed on them. This is my earliest memory of totally changing a piece of card, as we crafted 3D little houses and cars. It amused us for hours. Years passed, I dabbled in knitting, sewing, salt dough and dolls house craft, but my love of paper craft was reignited when Chris and I decided to get married 8 years ago and I needed Wedding Invitations. I love all things Vintage and Fussy crafting, taking sometimes a couple of weeks to finish one project. I find paper crafting to be one of the best medicines in life.


I was delighted to be told the challenge this fortnight was to be Die-cuts... but a neglected one. I did panic initially, as I use all my dies regularly, but I soon realised after rummaging through them I had this one from Cheery Lynn, that was sadly neglected. I cut it out and studied it for some time thinking how I could give it the WOW Factor and worthy of being used for my GD Spot. It took me almost to the following day for my project to be planned in my head. I wanted this to look like a Pergola in a Stately Home, with a Shabby Vintage feel and have light reflecting properties, with lots of detail to look at.


I cut out my die 4 times, edged with distress ink, mounting onto the reverse white-washed coffee sticks, this would make my item more rigid when it came to gluing. I layered parchment paper on to the frame so it would give a shadow effect the fretwork panels. The Bride and Groom were both edged with distress ink to create a shadow effect too, and I layered a piece of lace ribbon over her. I modelled her veil on the style of my mums and added a little metal wire covered in Flower Soft for her Headdress. I also scattered Flower Soft down her veil and onto the flooring to give the effect of confetti and fresh flowers.


The flooring was again made out of coffee sticks, cut, gesso’d and edges distressed and a little pen mark to resemble a nail in the floor and laid in a diagonal pattern. I mounted it onto a box, I made using my Scorpal Board, distressing edges and layering lace and ribbon flowers onto it. My steps were etched with the same die cut I used on my plant pots and rubbed over with distress to give a Shabby feel.


My trellised roof was made with sticks being white washed. I distress stained paper and stamped small leaves on to give texture and shade before die cutting the pieces, layering up and adding Flower Soft.

My trees were made from wooden beads glued onto garden plant sticks. I wrapped some twine around the sticks coated with Gesso and placed into a small wooden pot I had painted, adorned with a die cut and distressed. Topped with a little glue to which I poured on some sand and made a little bow to decorate. Finally. I placed lots of pearls onto it. My favourite embellishment.

Thanks for having me at Frilly and Funkie. I hope I have inspired you all to re-look at any of your neglected dies and I’d love if you pop over to my blog for many more photos and details on this project.
Julie x

I'm sure you will all agree Julie's project is absolutely stunning! A truly beautiful work of art, and what amazing inspiration to dig out your dies and see what you can make for the current challenge, 'Neglected Dies'.

15 comments:

  1. This is incredible Julie!!! The pergola structure is so delicate and I adore the flooring. You really have treated us to an absolute gem of a project for your Guest appearance. Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  2. What a beautiful project from Julie...so many details and hard work has gone into making this. A really great GD piece x

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  3. Wow, this is positively breathtaking Julie. I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful 3D piece of art... it is stunning. x

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  4. Oh wow this is a BEAUTIFUL stunner Julie. Exquisite detailing involving lots and lots of careful thought is obvious. Gorgeously romantic - it would be a unique and special wedding gift but I doubt you will be able to part with it. What an impressive first GD. Well done you! Nicola x

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  5. This is amazing! I love everything about it. Your work is fabulous, as is your attention to detail. Just a fabulous project!

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  6. This project is fascinating. I love the idea of the coffee stick floor and I am going to dream up a project to try this on :).

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  7. This is incredible. I'm picking my jaw up off the floor. I love all of the creative and beautiful details you added on this piece. And I am sooooo glad you found this neglected die. Amazing what you can do with coffee sticks. Serious WOW factor here!! Thanks for sharing this with us Julie! -- Mary Elizabeth

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous. I love how you have transformed coffee sticks and wooden beads to create something so perfect with the delicate lacy die. Your details are fabulous and this would make a fabulous wedding gift for someone special.

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  9. Thanks so much for the comments being left on my project. Its a delight to read them all.
    Julie

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  10. Stunning creation Julie! Beautiful details. Great idea.
    Joanna

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  11. What a stunning piece of work, Julie - glorious attention to detail, and so delicately done... beautiful!
    Alison xx

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  12. This is beyond amazing, Julie!! I am just in awe of how creatively you put everything together to create this delicate beauty! Wow. Just WOW!!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  13. WOW factor? Yeah, to about the millionth degree! I'm absolutely blown away by this, Julie. So many exquisite details. You have created a precious keepsake of a sacred celebration. Absolutely LOVE this. Thank you for gracing us with this amazing piece for your guest designer spot. You surely did us and yourself proud!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  14. Julie, this is wonderful! Everything you make blows me away and this is spectacular! I am a bit late commenting, as this week has been busy; but I'm so glad I got round to visiting as this is an absolute treat! I'm off to leave a comment on your blog! Julie Ann xxx

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  15. This certainly has the Wow factor Julie....I love all the wonderful details...it's clear you have given much thought to this fantastic project. A well deserved GD spot

    TFS and best wishes

    Annie x

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