Frilly & Funkie Challenge #5; Artist Trading Coins... ATC Keychain Collection

    March hasn't exactly been "springing" yet. At least not anywhere near this family.  The snow melted here, but the nights are still chilly enough for the melted junk to ice over again. Up north in Red Wing; the Younger Kids are facing some 'gnarly stuff' this weekend and the Younger Son FB'd about sinking into 2 feet of snow still on his ROOFTOP, that needed to come off before the eaves get backed up with ice that pushes upward. (While I've read of this before, it really never occurred to me that could remotely happen in our family!) I like to do the roof-walking myself, and make use of my blower 2x a year- getting all those "50 Trees of Indiana" and all the mess they "leave" in the gutters and on the roof. I like to tread around up there in my bare feet (or tight-fitting socks if it's a bit cold) because I can feel the loose roofing gravel that way, and even one tiny object can cause a fall from the roof. Better safe than sorry, so no boots up there for that job. The Younger Son doesn't have that kind of luxury, and if the blasted, lying, conniving GROUNDHOG turns out to have tricked us and Spring comes late; it will come even later up in Red Wing. So my prayers are for their continued safety up there.
      Meanwhile, down here in Indiana; we've kept prayers out for more family down south who have been in the path of yet more tornadoes. Last time, was Panama City, with family right there on the Panhandle (and hopefully, we will be working Missions for a week in PC to help rebuild, but we're waiting on plans to come together for that), but this time; it hit near Opelika, Alabama. This time, it did quite a lot of damage to the farms and homes...and LIVES. I cannot imagine losing my 6 yr old child to a storm. My heart mourns for the things that happen in this Earthly Life, but I know GOD is still in control and I take peace in that; otherwise...how could we keep going? Death goes along with life, and if we didn't know loss, we would never know what joy is. Still.... waiting for the birth of our 2nd Grandbaby (Girl) and spending time with our Wittle Peanut as he gets ready to share us all with his "Sissy"; it hits hard when innocents take the brunt of hurt and pain. Having lost yet another friend this past week to cancer, can give us ALL that much more FAITH to hang in there! Pam was my Bestie back in HS, and we worked our first jobs together where we met, and knowing that she still kept her sights on Heaven, gives me reason to hope I will see her again. :')
       Getting back down to the craft business at hand here.... I have a few points to make; one is that from this post onward, I may or may not be able to do those "Step By Step" photos and explanations to all my projects. At least; for the coming weeks or so. I'll let you in on it as soon as we find out a few things for sure, but suffice it to say that I am just not as able to keep up right now.  I actually realized this while crafting this very project; I got sooooo busy having FUN on this, that I forgot to keep taking the photos as I went along! I got to about the 2nd Coin done when I realized my 'mistake'. Going back to resituate everything for photos was a daunting thought right now. I am simply fighting the fatigue too much. While I look forward to this being TEMPORARY... I'm just going to 'wing it' as I can. I know my Followers and Readers will be ok with that, but it's my own OCD that bothers me with it, & it's being handled.  So,,,, let's get this moving!
         
       While these were made in 2011, they've never made it onto my Blog, so this is just a look back to allow you fellow Crafters in on the fact that I am no stranger when it comes to the ATC (Artist Trading Cards. And, once you get started; they are very addicting! I think it's because they are so tiny and while the idea is to keep them simple....well, you know ME by now. I have trouble rounding up my Craft Muse when she's let loose out in the open Studio. Pulling on her bit doesn't work, and neither does taking things away. She's just WILD when an idea pops into her head!! lol
Just for the fun of it; can you guess which one was done first? We learn as we go along, but sometimes, that 'simplification' hits some of us backwards. This was my case.



           Fast forward to this FF Challenge about ATC (Artist Trading Coins), & my first reaction was "Did I misread that...COINS??", and I had to actually take a really close up look at the inspiration from the FF Design Team. I'd never heard of "AT COINS" ! So I did what most of us do; I took a look on Pinterest for more designs and specs. And then I googled the origins of it. Here's what I came up with, courtesy of a Blog called DIY Craft Club  (Thanks, DIY Craft Club for the helpful article !!)
               After checking through all my circle dies (including a set of Spellbinder Circles, TH Alterations Repositionable Circles, and several other Sizzix Dies of circles or circle frames, as well as circle punches), I couldn't believe I did NOT have a 2 & 1/2 inch circle !! I went through every drawer and finally texted to the DT if the coins had to be only that size? They answered back that any close size is ok. This was understandable seeing that we often hang things well off the sides of our Tags and ATCards. But by the time I'd thought it over... I figured "in for a penny...' and ordered a large heavy duty punch. I was VERY GLAD I did and it arrived in just one day; BONUS!! My mind was already spinning with ideas- especially those TH DOLLS!!  The one Q I didn't ask: can we make more than ONE for this project? Well, that got answered by my run-away Muse. I had been itching to make another tiny 'collection' on a TH key ring, and this was my chance! I noticed that several of the FF DT, as well as the 5 or 6 who already posted their projects, made 2 or 3 posted. So I felt I was ok since I was making these FIVE to match together onto one ring. 3 was too few on it, and I'd already had the 5 planned out in my head. I couldn't STOP!! lol...

I made my TACoins to be much thicker- I layered 5 cardstock pieces together

to form the base for each. That would support some of the heavier TH IdeaOlogy items.

Another change: ATCoins and ATCards usually have a backside on them for info about

the maker/designer for trading purposes. I skipped this part in favor of adding

a backside to each, because it added to my "story" on the collection ring. 

                Here's what I ended up with.... and I am very pleased with it !!

                      A few 'perspective' views so you can see the layered details...

Some of the Tim Holtz products I've used on this:

Paperie: Paper Dolls, Tissue Tape, Paper Stash 12x12 (Correspondence, 

                   Dapper, Destinations, Memoranda), Chit Chat Stickers,

Ephemera Pack (Expedition);

IdeaOlogy: Adornments (Keys & Stars), Baubles (retired), Clock Hands,

Mini Gears, Mirrored Hearts, Mirrored Stars, Monocles,

Sprocket Gears, Index Clips, Jump Rings, Long Fasteners,

Book Rings, Number Brads, Swivel Clasps, Trinket Pins;

Trimmings: Crinkle Ribbon, Filmstrip Ribbon,

Ranger/Distress Products: Distress Regular Inks (Picket Fence, Tea Dye),

Distress Oxide Inks ( Antique Linen, Vintage Photo),

Distress Markers (Black Soot)

Distress Paint (Black Soot, Gold- retired, Picket Fence), 

Distress Collage Medium (Matte)

This FF Challenge was truly a fun surprise!

Please, go check out the rest of the projects, and you have until Tuesday Evening (3/11)

to join in with us at The Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog ,

with a chance to win- sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique

(You'll want to check out their new page design- and SALES !)

Thanks for all the SWEET comments, thoughts, and especially the SHARING

of great ideas and all those AWESOME talent-filled projects I keep seeing

from all of my Crafty Friends from all over!!

Be Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!!

Frilly and Funkie Challenge #15; AUGUST.... Through The First Year and On To The NEXT!

    August...such a simple title for this Challenge, but also very deceiving: the Indiana Education System seems to think that Summer is completely over. On the contrary: this Mom/Grandma/former school Volunteer says it still looks, feels, and even tastes like summer- because it STILL IS SUMMER!! I am so against all this early school start; I am of the 'old school' generation who went in after Labor Day holiday weekend, and got out before Memorial Day holiday weekend. And (for the love of GOD, folks) ours was the generations that MADE all the gizmos and gadgets called "technology"! We split the atom, put the man on the moon, and most importantly of all: we INVENTED Rock and Roll!!!! We didn't need more days out of a summer away from our families and friends, and while we took advantage of the AC (if you were "rich" enough), we took to the water... by vine over a creek, or catching crawdads for the fun of it.... or made our own fun with a plain old garden hose. I must be old-fashioned, and gladly so, if those days are long gone now.
             But, that very thought (the kids of summer) is what brought me to create this project for
The Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog . Our "Wittle Peanut" first Grandchild, Cole, turned a whole 1 year old on June 7th! I can't get over how much he has changed, grown, and especially learned during that 12 months! And every time we get to have him with us; he just gets smarter- and so much stinkin' CUTER!- than the time before...even if it's just days apart. With both our own boys, we were blown away by how intelligent each was and how quickly they caught on. They both loved books and we considered ourselves extremely blessed by that, and how well they always did in school. Our older Son (Cole's Daddy) did have a bit of an "attitude"...*hut-hum*...quite like his Mom (me) did back at that teen age. Sort of "I really LIKE this Teacher, so I will do my VERY BEST!" or "Man, this Teacher just sucks. Boooooooring. Forget this. I'm done." So the grade kinda depended on how we felt about it. But, our younger Son....just being told to "DO THE WORK", and he aced/breezed through it on gilded wings. Both are Gifted/Talented, but it's that extra "umph" that pushes that Giftedness over the top. I can definitely see that little bit of attitude in our first Grandson. Both girls our Sons brought home to us to be our Daughters are also very gifted in the smarts and their grades (& degrees!) show that. I always say that we will have THE smartest Grandchildren- EVER! But the real bonus: if this first kid is any indication at all...we will have the CUTEST Grandchildren in the whole wide world!!! Blonde and Blue- esp with the younger Son and Daughter who both have almost platinum blonde hair. 3/4 of our kids have blue eyes...with Cole's Daddy going back and forth over the years with Blue (from me) OR Green (the ChiefHubby)! But, ask ANY Grandma and she will be quick to say that HER Grandchild is the cutest....EVER. And it will be the truth, too!

                  So let's get down to Crafty Business and see where I took this....

We're back to The DoodleBook !

I've done a few projects in here that are Archived under past Posts.

I leave a set of pages in between each project I do- because I never know just how WET

I am going to get with the current project. For this; I did one layer of white gesso, then did some Tim Holtz technique of TH Stencils with TH Texture Paste (from Ranger).

You'll notice the TH Thinlit Die Set: #661186 (bricks and stones)…

I cut a few plain sturdy white cardstock pieces from the die set and used them

for my own stenciling. The 'rocks' turned out GREAT! It really does look

like a former wall of a building all crumbling in with no more full walls left.

A second layer of the gesso took on a different look when I used my sponge brush to make changes in the strokes I used: straight lines on the sky...then dabbing all over the 'rocks' and the inside area of the rocking to look like gravel on the ground.

Using a TH Distress Marker in Antique Linen gave a bit more dimension to the 'crumbling rock walls'.... doing almost ALL the lines up close, but in the back- using only a "here or there" stroke in between.....gives the impression of the back wall being further back.

A little play on the 'sky' with some TH Distress Ink in Salty Ocean, with some

ghost stamping of wording in there, randomly.

The columns were actually the FIRST thing I made:

I used one full sheet of TH GrungePaper and simply cut it into thirds, then 

cut the tops & bottoms away from them and trimmed down the sides of the columns.

Then folded the columns, and used the top of a Tag die to trim the scallops and used the rest

of the trim to top off each scallop.

3 coats of TH Distress Paint in Picket Fence (folding again before adding a coat of paint),

then using some TH Distress Ink in Pumice Stone for a bit more dimension on the 

folds and edges.

Then, I wanted CRACKLE...NOPE!

Arrrgh!!!! What to do?!

So while I had to go for another Dr Dracula visit (aka Blood Draw),

I stopped by JoAnn and Hobby Lobby to pick up a few new TH Crazing/coatings set.

Ok; ME LIKES!!!

To get the columns to 'stand out' from the background better, I chose to cut an 8&1/2 X 11 in 

white cardstock into 3 parts and then just folded each and taped them down only on one edge.

The cs 'popped up' just like you'd expect! Normally, you'd be wanting to smooth

it back down, but this time.....it did just what I wanted it to do.

Cutting out some English Ivy (the older Couple Kids had taken a trip to 

England before they had Cole coming along, 

so this is a bit of a nod to the UK and also to Education- 

Ivy is often used with photos of higher education) ,

using that new TH Alterations Pipeline Die 

and also the Watering Can (gotten on clearance last fall).

I stripped a wiring from some ribbon and saved the wire for another use.

It came in handy for the Pearls of Wisdom I wanted to show all the

milestones a baby passes: rolling over, sitting up, crawling, standing, and walking-

just to name a few large motor skills.

Twisting the wire around each pearl allowed me to space them along the wire.

For the TH Alterations Pipeline Bigz Die: I used the new Memoranda Stash Paper!

I cut several and stacked up the layers to make a thicker cut of each that would "pop" 

from the background, but run BEHIND the columns.....

Here was playing with the already-glued-layers of piping to see how they looked best

on the entire layout...

Before putting them permanently onto the background, I used some of my Vintage Photo Distress Oxide and played around with water to give the piping some REAL water spotting !

The Finished 2-page Project: "Through The First Year and On To The NEXT!"

Some Closeup Photos:

I used Glossy Accents on the drips to make them look like real water!

The sunshine beams show through from the background- both sun and water are needed to

nurture a plant for it to grow. The many things a CHILD needs to grow- includes good food,

clothing, and shelter, but also SONshine and all that comes with that Biblical instruction, 

as well as discipline, and attention. Everything in all those things spell L-O-V-E!

WHY 2 Crowns, you ask??

Because Cole has 2 Grandmas!!

He has his Mommy's Mom- his Grammy Fasha,

and his Daddy's Mom- Meemaw (me).

I absolutely LOVE the fact that my Sons each have TWO Moms!!

Some people may be jealous of their kids' other family, but I think it's a BONUS!!

This is Cole's 1st Birthday photo from his photo shoot over the week of June 7th, 2018...

Is this child not a "Gerber Baby"?!?

The rest of his pics were just as adorable, but this one had to be my fave!!

Lastly- he's already well on his way to Year #2, 

so I had to add a few sprigs and pearls for those things he has already learned in

just the two short months from June 7th to August 7th.

Let the ride be LOOOOOOOONG! And BLESSED!!!

I actually had this entire thing already finished within the first 4 days after the

Challenge was posted! It was so much FUN, and when I checked back into 

see more inspiration posted onto The Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog ,

I was awed that another VERY talented crafter thought along the very same lines!

Great minds DO think alike! LOL!

There are Badges and a drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate

Sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique ,of course.

But the real fun comes from the great feeling of sharing

something created that is close to your HEART !

A BIG THANK YOU shoutout to the wonderful folks checking in to see 

these crafts on my blog, and especially to those who leave a comment-

you guys are THE BEST!!!!

Ya'all make the rounds to the other Crafters involved in this Challenge if you get the

chance, and if you have the time: PLEASE JOIN US!!

We promise not to make fun of your inky hands, and to fully embrace

all your mistakes- as if they were our own!!   ; )

Till next time: BE SAFE &

HAPPY BLOGGING !!!!