The Funkie Junkie Boutique's Inspiration Ave: #3 Frozen Winter... Let's Get Cozy! (Albums)

   Winter is the theme this time around, but it seems to be more about colds and flu than snow and ice this year. As it is, I have hacked my way through this entire past week, and barely made it through the weekend and getting this posted. My lungs could really use a break! My ChiefHubby has had the same problem and ironically; he's spending this week up in Indiana. He joined the other guys from here ( Tri-State Christian Camp ) for a seminar at Southeast Christian Church up in Louisville, KY, but is staying at the Indiana campus. So I'm here in the Florida house... freezing almost as much as he is right now. This weather...she's crazy! We've had more severe storms than anything, with another bad one coming on Wednesday. It's 75* and sunny one day and drops 20 degrees overnight to a cold rain the next day. Not helping this cough, for sure. But, as you can see from the photo, the flowers are already blooming in the parks, even though they were all just trimmed off a few months ago. Elsewhere, our kids have all had snow at one point or another, in between times of soggy grass showing. The Grandbabies - save for the youngest being too tiny yet- have all been outside in that white fluff, enjoying it as only young, warm-blooded children do. I'm getting closer to being out on the bay soon, windsurfing. My wetsuit and life jacket both arrived this past week and I sweltered trying them out for fit to show the ChiefHubby- in the 75* afternoon. I hope it keeps me just as warm in the water. That day's cloud decided to form itself into a SHARK....as if to warn me?? I don't plan on being a frozen dinner. :)

We're kicking off "Frozen Winter" at The Funkie Junkie Boutique's Inspiration Ave,

and that seems appropriate for this time of year- even for those of us who don't have any

snow or ice- simply because the month of January is the very middle of winter itself.

 While not everyone is going to see freezing temperatures, I'm pretty sure that the word "chilly" has been known to just about everyone in the US, except for the extreme southern areas this year.

Anything after December 21st counts and Christmas certainly was a doozy!

I solved my Frozen-Winter-theme/warmer-weather-area problem by choosing

a paper pack that would give me colors that could go both ways.

Come along with me and see how it came about!

This is what some of those Funkie Junkie Boutique goodies were set aside for!

My tools are all shown in the photos but the main items you will

need to create one of these Let's Get Cozy Albums is listed below:

Graphic 45 - Let's Get Cozy - 12x12 Collection

Graphic 45 - Let's Get Cozy Journaling Cards

Sizzix Scoreboards Plus Die - Frame Pocket Journal by Eileen Hull

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 Crayons - Set #2

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments Snowflakes Christmas 2022

Not used on this project, but clearly matches perfectly:

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Lumberjack Plaid

For the Eileen Hull Scoreboards Plus Dies, you will need to use

the Big Shot Plus, or equivalent machine from Sizzix.

Also the cutting plates for the Big Shot Plus.

I have stacks of plain colored cardstock here in the Florida home,

and these two shades of light grey worked for me for a base.

I've given you the dimensions and number of cuts.

I didn't use 2 envelope edges (each color), but I did use everything else.

Now- check out these awesome shades of red and blue with white & cream!

And there's plenty there that could be used for summer projects...

or a Florida winter!

I measured the cover for the Journal cut, and chose my fronts and backs to match.

Each of the following photos shows the sizes I cut.

This was to be the Fronts and Backs for the covers.

This was to be 2 inside pages (1 for each album).

The above sheet (just a different pattern here but the same

inside pages) cut again and then...

... each is folded in half to make two pages each.

I decided to make an inside notebook for the very middle of each album.

Here, I layered the cover sheets.

I decided not to use the Score Tape afterall, since I like

to have a hard spine and cover, so I chose to use Glossy Accents.

There are all 4 'sections' used on my middle fold- and fully flat.

I layed this out so you can see that the base pages are the exact size of the die,

but the Graphic 45 papers are hand cut so they extend past the base.

This allows that area to bend freely for the closure.

Here, I've moved the middle covering piece over to the left,

so you can see it's nearly the same exact size.

Eileen's die is designed to easily be able to fit your papers- 

no matter how you cut!

Here: the outside is coming together.

You can see I've got a nice hard, flat back spine in the middle.

After getting the envelope flap edges on, all I needed was the top layers.

Getting some stitching done on all the inside pages to make long

side pockets for the large Journal Cards.

The cuts on this Frame Pocket Journal Die can be used different ways;

a flat pocket or one with more room. 

I didn't have the 

Sizzix Thinlits Dies - Library Pocket, ATC Card & Tabs by Eileen Hull

that works with Eileen's Frame Pocket Journal die,

so I got out one of my older Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies.

And did some plugged-into-the-electric-socket stitching...

...and some stitching with no electricity- the notebook was a bit thick.

By stitching it to a matching spine piece,

it was easy to sew all the pages to that and then glue it inside.

Here, I am 'stitching' with ribbon.

Getting the other 2 sets of inside pages sewn onto that middle piece.

Buttons would form the closure- along with velcro pieces.

This is the backside of all three signatures sewn to the middle piece.

I even tied another set of ribbons to the top in order to have

a couple of hanging outside the spine for IdeaOlogy Snowflakes.

Choosing some TH IdeaOlogy...

The only color I used for any edging or shading.

I know!

Who kidnapped me and replaced me?!?

This was just one project that looked right without.

And this is what it came to be...

Fronts

And some element closeups:

And another VIDEO!

The book shown in the video is the one I will keep

and the other is for my Bestie here in Florida, Christie, for her birthday.

on January 23rd (which happened to be the very day I typed this up).

Christie and her family have been a huge blessing to me for over 25 years,

and they are our FAMILY. I am humbled to have them in my life for so long!

Her girls (aka MY girls) treated her out to a tea house in Pensacola and I got

to go along. It was my first chance to visit there- probably the only area

in Florida that I haven't yet been to. We had a great time together!

(THANK YOU, GIRLS!!)

Christie is the one in the "George Harrison" hat,

and I'm trying to be Queen Elizabeth- while she was still alive, of course, lol!

The hats are a "thing" with us whenever we play together.

 Happy Birthday, my dearest Bestie!

And that's a wrap... for today!

Don't forget to pop back in for MORE here at

Inspiration Ave

from the rest of the fabulous Design Team!!

We've got more FROZEN WINTER yet to come,

so why not cozy up with us and join us for the fun!

Until next time...

Stay Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!

The Funkie Junkie Boutique's Inspiration Ave... #2 Chapter 1 Dies... 2023; The Year of the Gentlemen!

   What a day of this posting, it was: trying to get all my photos from my iPhone which was fighting me big time. I finally was able to get through several problems- in "just" 12 hours- and figure out what the problem was. Once I did (just a bit over 2 hours before actual posting time) it came out really fast! We finally got our own internet hooked up on the outside during this past week and the router was hooked up just a few hours ago. While my iPhone was the main problem, the speed of the new internet is nothing short of amazing and turned my day-long feelings of frustration into pleasure at the unexpected help that gave! My iPhone and I are going to have more 'discussions' tomorrow, for sure. 

 The weather has been mostly mild here, although when it does dip downward, it usually happens after we have days of warm 65*-75* and overnight, drops 30*. So, we do have extremes, just a different kind. Thankfully; nothing like Christmas was! We've got a couple of pipes to repair, thanks to that freeze- at least one Palm to replace also. New Year's Eve and Day was spent with family; the awesome fun of retelling the CHRISTmas Story- in Dixon Family style, and worship on Sunday; New Year's Day was the perfect way to begin 2023! The Grandbabies are keeping us up to date, and we've been talking to them through Facetime. It's amazing how much they bubble over to tell us and keep us updated on kisses. I miss them dearly, but there's so much to do here each day that time passes quickly. We did hear that Farmer Peanut has been excited that Santa Claus brought him all four pieces of a remote-control tractor. He's been plowing the floors at home ever since. Princess Pistachio got her long hair trimmed up and got noticed at school.... for wearing her Princess high heels. She found out that is a "No-No", but Daddy took the blame since he never noticed she left the house with them on. (The snow must have muted the 'clickety-click', lol!) But what's a Princess to do when she's wearing the most fashionable Princess dress?? Then, there's Little Man Pecan, up in New York, making friends with people left and right. He really is an out-going, happy 3-year-old who waves to everyone he passes. He's having fun discovering with his first Best Friend- Deek. Princess Rose is growing like a weed and at less than 5 months... yep; ready to crawl! She's a happy baby who's going to be the go-getter. I spent months after her impending birth was announced, searching for a matching treasure-shaped box for her keepsakes. The other three are paperboard Tri Coastal large, flat-topped, rounded treasure boxes which I found each year of their births, but none to be found for Princess Rose. While Christmas shopping down here in Florida, a rope on a shelf caught my eye; lo and behold- there it was! Smaller in length by 2 inches, but the same height and width, so the same Tim Holtz Folio will fit just like the others. And the design... was ROSES! I carried that treasure out of the store like it was made of glass! I already had the TH Folio finished and only had the front to do. It was a perfect match and I'm stoked to have 2 of the 4 finished and just adding to the boxes now and then. I have 2 Folios to give the finishing touches to. If you want, you can CLICK HERE to see the first one (Peanut's box and Folio) which I made for The Funkie Junkie Boutique's Guest Designer spot.

     It's time for more Inspiration Ave, and we've got some new items hot from Sizzix: Chapter 1 Dies 

are here and they do not disappoint! It's Lyla here- taking the first turn on showing you what one of Tim Holtz's new Everyday Collection sets - Gentlemen - looks like. At the first glance, I fell in love with this clean cut, and easy to use set of 5 pieces! You'll notice these new sets are actually less small pieces since they are put together to help make easier matching of the pieces- a huge bonus in my opinion. Scroll down with me and let's take a look at what I did with my choice from Chapter 1, and what resulted from that.

GOODIES... from The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

These are the main items I wanted to use...

... along with some Mat Board, these were my choice pages from Tim Holtz.

(List given below.)

Click on the links below to help you find the items I used:

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayons - Set #2

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Storage Tin

Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool + 2 Blending Foams

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"

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Etcetera Mini Tag Thickboards

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Vintage Photo

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Ground Espresso

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Black SootRanger Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Picket FenceStampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stamp Set - EccentricSizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set - Gentlemen

Tim's dies are always high quality, but it feels like he's gone well beyond even that!

These are so precise and easy to use- it's been a long time since we've had just simple,

but so detailed, fun shapes like this, and I thoroughly enjoyed these!

I cut all I needed for the first side of my Etcetera Mini Tag.

I still like to stack my shapes- especially if they are going to move.

The half man is explained next...

I noticed that the "Lefty" was touching his hat with his hand,

but "Righty" seemed to be touching his eyeglasses.

So, I turned my paper to the opposite side, and cut enough layers to make

a "Righty" arm and hat so they would both be tipping hats to each other.

I carefully trimmed away the unneeded arms on both guys,

since both arms would need to move.

TH IdeaOlogy Long Fasteners come in very handy here

since they are both long and skinny enough to fit the small arms.

Once all the pieces were moveable, I inked the edges and heat dried.

For the background: I took a sheet of Mat Board and traced the shape of the

Etcetera Mini Tag over it, cut it out, and then cut out a "T"-shaped area 

where the arms would move back and forth in a sideways motion.

Another piece of Mat Board was needed to make a slightly thinner T shape

with a longer handle piece. The length would be trimmed as needed to fit.

The top of the T (or left side as shown sideways) in the hallowed-out area allows

the filler T to move back and forth, yet not come all the way out. 

Then I traced and cut out the choice papers from the TH Backgrounds Vol. 1

for both front and back. The back could be put on right away, but

I needed to figure out where the arms would attach to the T board,

with the paper in between having only a slight slit opening for the 

Long Fastener to fit through.

I gave both backgrounds a workup with Distress Oxides in Vintage Photo,

and Ground Espresso. I did some water spritzing, heat drying between, and finally.

stamping with some TH Vintage Photo Distress Glaze.

Here, I was covering up the trimmed pull handle- gluing it only to the handle,

but allowing it to slide over a bit of the background freely.

This is what the finished FRONT looks like before the final layer over the T.

This is what the BACK looks like before the covering up.

After the 2 guys are affixed to the background, both moveable,

I ran the TH Walnut Stain Distress Crayon over all the edges of the Tag.

Don't forget to heat dry after crayoning.

The same steps used for the BACK- cut all the die pieces needed

to stack up and make all three guys ("Middle Guy" wanted in on the fun).

Ink the edges and heat dry and they're ready to play!

Top hats and canes needed rose boutonnieres, in moho.

These were leftover stash ribbon roses from Princess Judith Rose's box.

And this is what I ended up with...

FRONT SIDE

BACKSIDE

And yes... on the FRONT SIDE...

they tip their hats to each other on the way in to work!

Thanks so much for joining me for the kickoff of

Tim Holtz Everyday Collection die sets!

Be sure to go to The Funkie Junkie Boutique and check out the

TONS OF NEW ITEMS!

And don't forget to come back here to Inspiration Ave,

for more inspirational makes from the rest of our talented and helpful

 Funkie Junkie Boutique Design Team!

Until next time...

Stay Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!