Year 2013 & Year 2014 2

Year 2013 & Year 2014 2

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The Funkie Junkie Boutique's Inspiration Ave. #8; Permanently Perfect... Ticket to Fly!

I've had a bit of a rough time getting settled back in at home again. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, it all seems to go haywire on me. I'd gotten what I thought was "ahead" only to figure out I had the wrong theme, and it caused me to have to start fresh on a project that ultimately went well overdue. There were the Doctor Appts and tests that slipped my mind since it's already April and those are usually done in January. I won't go so far as to say it's part of getting older. I will say that this just wasn't "my" week. I managed to get the last bag unpacked from our New York trip one week ago. The younger set of kids had the chance to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the NCAA Men's Final Four Basketball Championship with Purdue in that Top 4. The last showing they made was 44 years ago- just when the ChiefHubby was getting ready to attend his Frosh Yr. there in the Fall of 1981. So, we drove up to spend a week with the younger 2 Grandbabies while their 'Rents flew out to Phoenix, Arizona for the Semi and Final Games. Purdue sadly came in 2nd... but their attitude was very gracious, and their top player was a big part of that! Meanwhile, we were able to get the trampoline up and tied down in their yard and enjoy some bouncing shenanigans as all four Grandbabies enjoyed the two trampolines now set up in New York as well as in Indiana. Princess Chloe had gotten her Kindergarten Roundup done on the 4th and her hair cut (with attitude!) on the 5th. The 8th of April was Total Eclipse Day and while the kids in Indiana got a really nice view of it with their own hand-crafted glasses, our skies were cloudy and a bit overcast. We did enjoy seeing the extreme darkness coming at us and the feeling of it being time for bed in the middle of the day! All the lights in the houses came on and we ended up getting just a peek as the clouds parted just enough for a few minutes. We did enjoy a week of spectacular sunsets streaming through the back windows into the kitchen in the evenings! The weather warmed up enough to be able to get all the yardwork started for the younger kids, but by the time we got home to our own yard... the fun went out of it, lol. The 14th was Brett's 32nd Birthday, and that was great they were able to get away. While we were headed back to Indiana, the 10th was the day one year ago that we said goodbye to our HunniPi, my precious Hearing Helper pup. It was just a couple weeks before her 14th Birthday, and I am still missing her, but still very thankful for The LORD's gift of her to us! Grandpup Baxter (younger Kids' first pup from old age) passed in the Spring of 2021, then Macie (older Kids' 5-year-old Golden) passed from cancer in 2022. And, at the posting of this, today; April 17th... MOOSE will be leaving the younger Kids. MOOSE is a Louisiana Catahoula and decidedly "everybody's dog" since he was first adopted by Brian when a friend decided he could no longer keep the 1-year-old full-bred dog he'd purchased for his family. A new baby made it hard to have time for a puppy who needed to run and play. When Brian married and moved in with Ashley further south, we took MOOSE in as our own FurryKid and to say that dog didn't become the most hated/loved/can't-live-with-him-but-can't-live-without-him dog in the WORLD...!!! He doesn't have paws. This dog has HANDS! And he could climb cabinets, get into a package of chocolates, and you wouldn't have a single clue he'd done so... except if you found the hidden, completely clean wrapper!!! In the Fall of 2016, we were packing up from our campsite, with both HunniPi and MOOSE with us. The younger Kids had been down from Red Wing, MN, and were thinking of adopting another dog for their Penny girl. They took one look at MOOSE, then looked at each other, shrugged simultaneously and told us they wanted to take MOOSE home to try it out. Darned if that dog certainly understood!!! They were to pick him up in the morning before heading north for home, and MOOSE was waiting at the window ALL NIGHT LONG. When they pulled up, he gave me one last look... then hopped into their SUV without so much as a "Bye, Mommy". He grabbed their leg of lamb that was thawing out. He took off out the door and would come back when HE was ready. He farted something AWFUL at times. But in all... MOOSE is just MOOSE, and everyone loves him- and I know I always will. When people remind me what The BIBLE says about animals.... I remind them that it also says, "ASK anything in My Name, believe on it, and it shall be done". I've asked and I believe: HunniPi will welcome MOOSE "Home" today. But, we'll miss that pup; a lot.














    It's time for another new theme! I'm kicking off for the Team with my own take on TFJB Owner, Linda Coughlin's choice of challenge to our Design Team; "Permanently Perfect" where it's all about Archival Inks! There's a lot of colors to choose from, but in my world; I'm sticking with neutrals. 
So get yourself comfy and we'll get right down to business...

I grabbed a few things I thought I might use- along with some very necessary tools.

Here's your handy List of Links to find some of what I used:



I began by choosing some papers from TH Backdrops Vols 4 & 5, and a lot of misc. scraps.
Using the 'smoosh' technique, I used TH Distress Oxide in Vintage Photo to age the papers.
Distress Inks and Oxides must be heat dried, but Archival Ink does not.

Then I began stamping with the Archival in Jett Black by using my TH Stamping Platform.
The Platform keeps your paper in place while allowing you to stamp your image as many times as you need- without the stamp moving around on you. If you're going to have a lot of stamp
sets in the cling rubber (as shown above) or clear stamps- a Stamping Platform is a good tool to have.

Above: I stamped twice on these images, but it's so clear and precise you really can't tell!

In order to get the right placing for the Etcetera Mini Tag, I used both the guide on the Platform
and the guide provided on my TH Glass Media Mat (shown underneath the Platform).
This way, all I had to do was center my stamps with the numbers from measuring the Tag.

Another way to stamp: using a Clear Grid Block.
These come in many sizes and sometimes, more shapes than just rectangles.
The gridded lines help line up the stamp to keep it straight as you stamp freely with your hands.
Stamping a larger area is easier since it can be done out in the open and not be limited by the smaller area of the Stamping Platform- which is generally 12x12 inches or less.
However, it's extremely difficult, -if not impossible- to stamp again in the very same spot.

"Ghost stamping" is simply using your hand with your fingers lightly pressing on a few spots of the stamp being used or rolling it with your hand onto the surface. The stamp is not meant to be a fully clear, but less bold than normal stamping. (As shown by the numbers above.)

Stamping on the edge gives the illusion of the stamped image going on into the distance beyond the paper given. Be sure to put a scrap paper underneath the paper being stamped, or you'll run the chance of smearing your image, as well as a mess underneath the paper. 

When using Archival Ink, you must have an Archival Ink Stamp Cleaner.
The formula is different for the Archival since it's a permanent ink,
whereas the Distress Inks and Oxides can be easily wiped away with baby wipes
and a gentler type of stamp cleaner.
*Note: I always wipe with a baby wipe first and then do the rest of the stamp cleaning with 
a good stamp cleaner (such as Ranger) for my Distress Inks and Oxides. The baby wipe's soap can cause a buildup in the details of the stamp, which can cause the stamp to "blur" the image.
You'll notice the feel is softer on your stamps when you use the right cleaner.
Storing you stamps is also an important way of caring for these awesome tools- they're expensive and you'll want to help them last as long as you possibly can!

Here, you can see I've got everything cut out using both a TH Thinlits Vault Die
as well as an older TH Tags Thinlits Die, and plain old TH Scissors to make the ticket and luggage tag.

Making a shelf that would fit my needs for both the suitcases and the clock to sit on,
meant fashioning one myself. That's what the leftover edges from the Etcetera sets are for!

Above: I staggered the double-sticky foam onto the back of the suitcases,
 so they popped a bit.
Then I used the leftover Etcetera edge to fill out the middle where the circle 
would be if I hadn't needed it for a shelf.

I keep just about all my Etcetera leftovers. I never know when I might need a piece.

Putting the clock together.

Coloring the Inspector- who is doubling here as a 737 Airline Pilot.

FRONT OF TAG


The goggles were fun to make and look cute!



BACKSIDE OF TAG

BACKSIDE of TAG- with Ticket/Luggage Check out of pocket.

Backsides of the Ticket/Luggage Check


Thanks so much for joining me on yet another traveling adventure!

Once again; this new theme will be running for the next two weeks, with each
Design Team Member taking a turn at sharing their take on our latest theme;
"Permanently Perfect"!

Be sure to check back in every few days or you'll miss out on a post!
And don't miss out on the GREAT DEALS to be had over at 


Until next time...

Stay Safe &
HAPPY BLOGGING!!

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