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 #25 "A Time To Be Grateful".... and A Vintage Journey Challenge; November "Sets"...Memory Books

 November seemed to just steam-roller over me and December is only a few days away. During the first few weeks of COVID19, when authorities were saying it might last until July, I was one of the first to drop my jaw with the feeling of "Noooo! It just CAN'T last THAT long!" Hahaha....silly me. I'm hoping that the flow of vaccines will move smoothly and by the time Summer 2021 gets here- yeah, I'm not holding my breath for sooner than that- we will be getting back to some semblance of 'normal'. I know, I know; it will still be a new kind of normal because I doubt we have seen the last of a Coronavirus. But, I can hope, right?

Meanwhile, I have always had at least 3 things going on at once- never a dull, idle moment here at home. And I have been doubly busy as I have been trying out quite a few crafty ideas I've had for a long time. It's kind of vaulted  me ahead a bit. But, there's always the blogging to do, so here I am in the wee hours of Thanksgiving, and getting these 3 latest makes posted. While I feel 'early' for once in my life, I am actually late again; this (as well as one more make) is for my "ChickCousin" (my nickname for her since she is not only the ChiefHubby's 1st Cousin whose younger brother was a Best Friend, but she's been one of my very closest Besties my entire marriage)- her birthday was earlier in November and I was not quite finished....as usual. Cindy lost her Husband Roy, a couple years back. And I have NOT been a very good

Bestie in spending time with her. We've been on the same time-line with my 2 boys and her younger 2 boys (who grew up as close as neighbors, cousins, and friends), but different time-lines with Grandkids since her older 2 boys have Grandkids of their own who are the same age as my Grands. I have a plan, though... this make is for me to spend an evening with her- while she quilts (her passion) while I fill this book with her favorite photos.

                   So let me show you what I did here... 

This is something I've wanted to try for some time, now;

instead of doing a "tea dye", I wondered if you could get darker, more varied stains

with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks....dropped into water, as if it were steeped tea bags??

I chose Ground Espresso... yeah- it's kind of funny... tea... coffee...lol.

I did use gloves for this- not wishing to stain the crevices of my nailbeds.

The ink's reactions in the water is VERY COOL to watch!!!

And yep- it worked VERY NICELY!!

I played around with more kinds of paper- cardstocks, etc.

And then I also did more play- flicking water, dragging a few pieces through droplets leftover, etc.

Then I cut my 2 sets of covers and layered them together in order to make

2 books with 3 signatures each.

I totally admit my dependency on Tim Holtz items...LOL!!

The ideas of decorating with just the PAPER are unlimited!

Here's the results...

I did a couple of pages in mine- just to show her a couple of cute ideas for her pics!

I'm entering this set of Memory Books into the following challenges:

 

A Vintage Journey 

based on their November theme "Sets" in which we are to make anything

that is a set of 2 or 3 things (cards, tags, etc.).

and

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique

with their theme "A Time To Be Grateful" in which we are to

craft something that shows our thankfulness to someone or thankfulness in general. 

My Bestie, Cindy has always been there for not just myself, but for my family-

and just about everyone in our extended family.

And she shares her AWESOME talent in making quilts and quilted items for everyone!

(More on that in another post yet to come!)

Meanwhile, it looked to me as if she LOVED her Memory Book- and 

began texting me photos for printing to use on our evening visit in December!

Next post coming up soon! Meanwhile...

Stay SAFE, Wear the MASK, Wash the HANDS, &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!