The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #10; Reuse & Upcycle... Junk Journals!

  Hello, everyone! The sun finally came out and warmed us up here in Indiana, and it's been go, go, go ever since. I'm once again typing on the fly, here. I just returned from a family gathering that I wish we hadn't had to have; a Celebration of Life for one of the Nieces on my side. Lyndia was only 39 and that's far too young. She knew The LORD and I know that's Who holds her now. It's so hard to see people question GOD's goodness in times like this, and yet; one day we will have all the answers to satisfy. The sadness of death was tempered by my being able to hold the newest GrandNiece (Zoey) tonight.

  Our older set of Kids had a rough month, and after much thought, decided to go ahead and adopt another Golden Retriever. Poor BEAR was beside himself over the loss of his older sister, Macie. He stopped eating and was crying quite a bit. He's lived his entire life as the baby with Macie at his side. To help him along better, they did some searching and came home with Callie. She's nearly whiter than BEAR, and fuzzy, warm, and loves to snuggle. BEAR seems to 'tollerate' her, yet he's getting back to his old self much faster now. By any stretch; you can never 'replace' any member of the family, and Callie is not another Macie- she's a big ball of fluffy CALLIE!

   I was finally able to get back to a bit of normal myself- having not felt well this past month and fighting the fatigue. Two new meds took me off-guard. That brings the Rx number to 25 now?? I think..  But, still not even a record for me- which was 28 one year. I try not to think about how much that costs- especially the chemo meds weekly. It really sticks in my craw to think how much TIM HOLTZ STUFF I could get with all that money!!! Grrrr!!! (LOL) In any case, I dragged my butt back out to the woods and found some delectable BIG shrooms (morel mushrooms). Helped the 2 older Grandkids to look and Peanut found his very first one- quite a prize at that! Memaw has her special spots over 35 years here, and knew where to go, but let's not belittle that 6 &1/2 inch delicious, huge hunk of mold! :) While we're outside trying to get the house caught up earlier this year, Baby Pecan has been having lots of fun in Canada with his 4 older Cousins. From the photos we get; you can clearly see he's having a grand time living in New York and popping up to Canada! Mr. BananaMan is what I'm calling him now, as you can see in the pic. I took Princess to her first Ladies Tea- she loved the frills of it all. Makes me look forward to having TWO GrandDaughters to do that with! Just a couple nights later, Peanut and Princess had their Preschool Spring Program- Princess's first and only Peanut's 2nd, thanks to Covid19. I hope things stay better now so that Pecan won't get cheated out of things like so many kids across the country have this past 2 years. In any case...this Granny is WHOOPED. I am going to sleep for the next 14 hours !!!

     But first; let's get down to business finally! "Reuse & Upcycle" is the theme for the latest Challenge over at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog. Lisa's taking the lead on this one and she's challenging us basically to pick up some trash and use it to make something frilly, funkie, or vintage. Now....let's be honest; how many of us have a drawer in our craft area that contains what others call "trash" but we call "keep it just in case" stuff?? I'll admit that when I went through all my stuff in a total cleanout...gulp....I tossed out 5 BAGS of trash items; plastics, tubes, paper rolls, foam shapes, boxes, tissue paper, card fronts... you name it. So I KNOW you gotta have something you can use! C'mon; you know you do, so get it out and make something out of it. And don't forget to take a photo of it and share it with us at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog !

(Links will take you to the item listed, or to a similar item at TFJB)

I'm using the older Eileen Hull Passport Die, but you can find her newer dies

HERE

My other featured items are Sizzix Chapter 2 Tim Holtz 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Cracked Leather and

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Worn Wallpaper Scraps - Halloween 

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ephemera Snippets, Number Strips

Tim Holtz Kraft Stock - Classic

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Aged Mahogany

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Ground Espresso

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Vintage Photo

Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents

I started with that pad I found in one of my drawers of stash paper (lucky me!),

and simply cut, cut, cut, and cut some more.

The Funkie Junkie Boutique not only ships quickly, is lovingly packed, but always

includes little freebies that often are a sample die cut of new dies just released!

As you can see; not only did I use the packing paper (under all the goodies) for my project,

but who doesn't get inspiration just from browsing the site?!?!

Shop with ME at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

The paper is perfect for many craft uses.

It has that 'crinkley" Paper Lunch Sack look that is very suitable for Junk Journals.

I used one of the cuts from the Eileen Hull Passport Die to measure out the sheets.

Just fussy cutting them apart and then running them with the die to make the same cuts.

I actually ran out...for a minute. :)

I keep a few rolls or folds (depending on how much of a hurry I am on opening new goodies)

in my "trash treasure" drawer. I call that the Craft Room equivalent of the kitchen "everything drawer".

I was going to use my Retired TH Apothocary Alterations Die

(there is a newer one still in circulation), but opted for making the flowers into a bouquet.

I gently WATERED DOWN the stock that goes into the 3D Embossers.

You'll note this shows "Febreze" where it's really just the empty bottle refilled with PLAIN WATER.

Sorry, Tim, but this is a lot bigger and keeps me from having to refill so often.

I used TH Distress Oxide Ground Espresso on the raised parts of the 3D Cracked Leather Embosser

before running it twice through my Big Shot.

I scored both before and after on the outside pieces of the binding.

I do this whenever I am using more than one layer on any of my book-making.

You can see that the 3D Embossers give both the inside (bottom or wrong side) shown at left, 

 and the outside (the top or outer side) shown at right, great texture and look! 

You can really tell the difference in the texture and color with the 3d Cracked Leather Embosser.

I am really AWED by it and you'll probably hear me say that more than once.

It makes paper look like CLOTH.

I use regular Hand Quilting Thread (no brand is neccesary) to put the signatures (groups of paper)

together, and usually a thicker string like hemp string to hold each signature to the spine.

Cut first, then ink up, and heat dry before any gluing.

I found some perfect matching cording in my stash ribbons box.

Using the TH Glass Mat makes getting the Runner Tape smack in the middle= easy.

I usually do layers by the back-and-forth layering.

Think: sock and sock, then shoe and shoe

instead of sock and shoe, then sock and shoe.

Does that help?

It makes the entire thing more even.

I like to make my closures as ribbon/string hidden under the first layer of the cover. 

These books have 3 layers on each side, with only 2 layers on the bind.

3 cover layers- 3D Embossed cardstock, plain cardstock, TH Wallpaper

Middle Bind: 3D Embossed cardstock, plain cardstockl.

I used a "floating wood floor" brayer to roll my layers flat.

My ChiefHubby saved this for me after we got done putting in all new floors a few years back.

It's come in handy several times.

After rolling (squishing excess Glossy Accents out) and allowing to dry, I used my finger

to gently lay a coat of Glossy Accents all over the outside.

The result is the cutest Junk Journal of outer faux leather...

You can measure them up to the brown stitched faux leather, and red leather books below.

The Journal on the right is for my only younger sibling; my Sister Debbie.

It's been a long time since we've been together, and my thoughts & prayers are with her.

She's had a rough road to travel this past year, and I find myself missing our time together. 

Back when our boys were all young and in school during the day, we'd steal away and

have some good talks and fun shopping together before running back home to Wife/Mom duty.

I needed a Tag to stick inside for her birthday, which was May 9th,

and there was a piece of Snippets Ephemera- Number Strips with "May 12th, 1887" in the package!

We both adore old and vintage items, so this was perfect.

The violet and lavender is a nod to our Grandma Raymer for Debbie.

That Tim Holtz Wallpaper is the bee's knees when it comes to authentic look and feel!

A touch of Distress Oxide Ink in Aged Mahogany (and Ground Espresso in the photo below)

all around the edges is all that is needed here.

The Backsides

I had a really GREAT run with my "Sunday in the Park" theme at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog on Tim Holtz Addicts Facebook Group with (as of this typing) a whopping 

588 reactions and 89 comments !! I am so GRATEFUL and so VERY HUMBLED. 

And if that wasn't enough...

Mr Tim Holtz, himself, commented- the ultimate praise from the Designer of the items used!!

THANK YOU ALL, SO VERY, VERY MUCH!!

It really DID lift my spirits at a time when I really needed it!

And now it's up to YOU: get some fun in and get crafty!

The rules are so simple- posted right under the inspiration from the Design Team makes

at

The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog; Reuse & Upcycle

Sponsored by 

The Funkie Junkie Boutique

And that's all I wrote. ;)

Until next time...

Stay Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #23; It Looks Real!........The Book of Experiments

    November has blown in with gusty winds spreading the falling leaves faster than I can keep up with. So far, anyway; what Leaf Battles I have fought in the past few weeks, I have won. But the Leaf War is not yet over for 2019. We've succeeded in getting everything winterized and put away, except for the camper moved out to the new overhead storage. A bit of trouble getting it installed (they finally showed up last week) and they  actually set it up in the dark! Next day sunlight revealed that they really CAN do that with their eyes closed. But don't try that on your own, folks, lol! A bit of adjustments to the bottom anchor boards and then it will be ready. In the meantime; I'll be up on the roof, getting the last of the leaves blown off, and reciting "I'm king of a hill..." That children's poem always comes to my mind up there. In another few years, we plan on putting up a metal roof. I can't see walking on that in my socks the way I do this tar-shingle roofing. Unless I want to crack my back...the hard way. This house has been ours since 1987, and we have probably redone every single bit of it- at least once- to get it where it is now. I absolutely LOVE my home, and while no house is ever going to be perfect, I can honestly say that this house is perfect for us. We still have things we want to redo, like the roof, but I dare anyone to say they are satisfied with the way their house is. Because it's then you will find something that needs to be fixed. The "Dream Home" is what you make yours to be. So this one is mine!
           The theme for this Challenge on The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog put me in the mood for a mix of old and new. You see; this appears to be "The Year of Replacements" for us. You all know what that means if you own your home; things are going to wear out or break down with use, and need to be replaced. No matter how well you take care of things, it's just going to HAPPEN. And, more often than not; it comes one after the other in rapid succession. I think  it started with the little spare AC in the master bedroom. Some years back, our central air puttered out and we replaced it. But after that, we built on the large Family Room, as our boys were getting bigger and we needed a bit more common living space. We didn't plan to do things in that order, but the AC had gone out before we were ready to build on, and at the time we weren't sure we were even staying in this house... or purchase a larger home? So, unbeknownst to us then; that AC was too small and eventually wore down to non-use. We had our hands full getting both boys through very expensive High School years and then, getting them into college/out on their own. Installing two window ACs made more sense at that time, and we decided to wait until putting on a metal roof,; we'd get all the ducts rechecked/worked on all at once. We learned that re-siding a house, new windows/doors installed....can be very messy. Especially when your house is "The Neighborhood House".
   That all brings me back to the REPLACEMENTS.... after that 'small AC problem; easily fixed; boom; good to go', then it was the weed whacker. With mowing and trimming this much land, a light-duty weed whacker is a no-go here. So it was get a new heavy-duty tool. Thanks, Amazon! I'd already had a replacement mower the year before. I LOVE that little "Gumpmobile" that does look just like Forrest Gump's red mower. It mulches anything and everything in its path. And it can actually take off on you. (Happened to a few of us-including my Older Kids' other Mom- from whom it came!)
But after this second belt broke, in the middle of summer (it was no easy feat to replace the first one- 2 different belts on it) , no less...*sigh*….it was time to go ahead and get a new one. AGAIN. Yes, we have had several brand new mowers in the 32 years here. And yes, we DO mow THAT MUCH! So the ChiefHubby went shopping and got little old me a zero-turn Cub Cadet in a "very purty yellow". Mowing now takes half the time it ever did before (normal is 4 hours), and my RA thanks him so very much! Not to go to waste; the Gumpmobile, and its new belt, is already promised to a guy who needs it. We are so BLESSED to be able to afford all we have, so we always GIVE to others without cost. Okaaaaay. After that, it was several little things around the house. Small, but replacements nonetheless.
      With a lot of thoughts going this path all through this year so far...shall we knock on wood, here?.....I decided to make something that I've wanted to try for ages. It involves - just like a real home- a mixture of old and new. I also took note of a few other Designers' inspirational makes to help me blend my idea together. So here we go!

                                        Is this BOOK real?

Not really! And it was fun to make!

Yes, I doubled the paper, and coated the inside with ModPodge 

to keep the layers stuck together.

Painting the box first, then adding my makes all on top of that paint.

The paint serves as a base.

Crumple. Smooth out. Ink up. Heat. Repeat... till satisfied.

Here's where I thought I was stuck;

I wanted to put my usual coat of Distress Collage in Vintage Photo...

until I opened up the bottle to find what was left at the bottom- all dried up and useless.

Then, I had a thought: Distress Rock Candy Crackle will just ADD more tiny wrinkles!

After it dried, I gave it another coat of Vintage Photo Distress Ink, then

finally (after the binding was added) coated the entire thing with Multi-Medium Matte.

I've made faux leather before, and a book, as well, but pure & simple INSPIRATION

got me going on this choice... 

THANK YOU for the inspiration, TFJBCB Design Team Member, Jenny Marples!

Is this KEY real?

The Bookmark string is coated hemp (purchased like that).

I grunged it up by simply running it roughly through my hands- at the very last-

when I had all that grungy, messy ink all over!

Hey, that was the EASIEST distress job I've ever done!

Nope! Just some stacked TH Grungeboard with TH Distress Inks and a heat tool.

The matching "LOCK" on the front of the BOOK was made the same way.

How about the BLACK CAST IRON?

Or the WOODEN SIGN?

Or the VOLTAGE...

Is any of that REAL?

NOPE! But, creating it to LOOK real, was REAL(ly) FUN!

I also used the TH Alterations Movers & Shapers Dies: Base Tray and Mini Labels.

The TH Alterations Voltage Die is brand new and this was my first chance to use it.

I had a little help- you can see in the background- from ZOE HILLMAN's take on it.

THANK YOU, ZOE!!!

The Voltage base at the bottom was a mix of all these products!

Talk about messy FUN!!

Most of my die cuts were all thick mat boards. Then stacked up in 3 layers.

If you look closely at the finished project; you can see how '3D' it looks from this thick layering!

The WOODEN SIGN was made the same way, but with thinner cardstock,

then run through the Big Shot with TH 3D Impresslits Folder Lumber

The best way to make the 'cast iron' is to really cover the item with Black Soot Distress Paint,

then 'sift' it through PLAIN EMBOSSING POWDER.

(Tim's Distress Powders won't give a smooth look, and I like using his for rust and grungy looks.)

I added Ranger Texture Paste all around with a bit of water on my fingers, 

shaped it rounded to match the stacked walls on the outside- to smooth the sides-

then sanded it down and added the rest of the paint as a second coat.

The Professor would need water piped in to cool those gears...

I just LOVE that TH 3d Impresslits Folder: FOUNDRY!!

This was my first chance to reeeeeally make a larger thing with it.

Trash plastic becomes treasure plastic!!

Water in the Lab needs a tank:

one for holding and constantly filtering/cooling the water, and a holding tank as well.

Painting a mixture of Alcohol Ink with Glossy Accents gives a fast-drying medium

as well as coloring!

This was the first attempt at piping and trying to make it look rounded.

I cut 3 of each piece to layer them, but only one had the "WATER"

colored onto it. They were all three held together with Glossy Accents without the Alcohol Ink.

PVC piping does come in clear for laboratories! 

I tried shaping the FIRST BATCH with heat to round it out.

Nixed the above set, and made this new set the same way, but leaving it flat this time.

Making the light fixture/fan was just simple stamping with the Stamp Platform and

The Professor (CMS373) Stamp Set.

While this book was a large project, I've wanted to do this for a long time.

Not just a works on a Tag, but the whole 3D shebang!

I think it turned out pretty good, too.

THANKS!! for all the sweet comments, and for the app. 1,600 folks who peeked

in on my blog last month! WOW; I was blown away!

Thank you, The Funkie Junkie Boutique ,

for always having what someone needs, and at nice prices!

TFJB is the Sponsor for these amazingly fun Challenges,

so try one out and see what you can do, too!

Until next time, folks...

Be Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!