The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #9; My turn to lead with "Sunday in the Park".... Beasly Park, Emerald Coast, Florida!

 

     I'm posting this in just the last couple of hours, since we just got home from Oswego, New York.  I'm taking the lead in this TFJB Challenge "Sunday in the Park" , and I have been looking forward to this since I came aboard The FJB Design Team back in January! I made sure to check the store well beforehand and get the right tools I needed in order to make my plan for this make work. I have some steps you can follow along with and if that's all you want to read- just scroll on down, because as is my usual... I have had a wild life lately...

       What a couple of weeks it has been since my last post...pictures will tell more than I can. The older set of kids and Grandbabies had a very rough week; the cause of my praying for comfort as I typed up that last entry; GrandPuppy Macie, was found to have some kind of cancer, and she just went downhill quickly. They sent them to Purdue where she would have the very best of any Vet care around, yet they were unable to save her after 2 blood transfusions. Perhaps their study of her body will help others. They brought her ashes back home to bury. Peanut and Princess were able to say their goodbyes, and young children heal faster with this, but it was very rough going for our kids. Like the younger set with our first Grandpup ,Baxter (who was put down last year in February)... it was gut-wrenching to have to make that choice for our 2nd Grandpup. She was their first 'baby' as Baxter had been the younger kids' first. I can understand and be grateful for Baxter's long life; as well as my own HunniPi who has been my Hearing Helper for the last 13 years this August. She just passed her 13th Birthday on April 29th. Yet, Macie May was only 5 years old and that is a very short life for a Golden Retriever. BEAR, her younger brother, cried for days and we are praying he doesn't have the same situation down the road.

         And during those 2 weeks we waited to see if Macie was going to be ok or not... one of my many Neices managed to make up a surprise meeting with my Mother and siblings from that side. We'd not seen one another since 2003, and probably not since the 20 years before that. I talk often to them and see my next oldest Bro quite a bit, but it's the first time we've been all together in one place. I have 15 Brothers and Sisters with 3 deceased. Only one is younger than I, yet we just got to meet in 1993.  Yeah... I know; very confusing. I know because I lived it, lol. Yet, I love them ALL dearly and wouldn't trade how my life turned out- I am truly BLESSED!

   

     There's more going on, but let's get to the fun part first: TFJB Challenge: Sunday in the Park ! I've got two tons of photos to show you how I got the look, so let's just get started!

I began with just these items - and my artist rendering in my sketch book of what I wanted to do.

Later on, as you will notice, I ended up NOT using the older TH Thinlits Tropical. I really wanted that tree, but to keep the perspective correctly done, it just wasn't going to fit into the canvas.

I've had that TH Thinlits Die Paper Village since December and just now got to use it just for this.

The TH Paperie as well as some stash paper and the 8x10 canvas board.

I just SO LOVE that TH Kraft Stock paper!!

I cut out the shapes using 2 'larger houses' and one smaller- these are really TINY, all right.

I then cut them each down to what thickness of house I wanted to pop out from

the canvas board. The taller small house was going to be the first layer on the canvas,

so it would be completely flat using only one side and the roof to pop outward.

The next layer of (larger) house was 1/8 inch thick, and the last larger house was 1/4 inch thick.

After cutting, I sanded them.

I did make the 2 deeper houses just as you would normally- back and front....

...but I mixed up the cutting with my TH Tiny Scissors

by clipping and rearranging so that you could look into the windows and see the back wall.

Both layers of each house were the front of the paperie, not the craft side.

I inked them up and then heat dried before gluing together with Glossy Accents.

Next, I fussy cut some "water" out of the TH Kraft Stock- Cool... a dark blue.

Then I heavily spritzed water onto the paper and 

used Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink onto the raised side of 

a very old TH Embossing Folder Travel Signs to make waves. Then rubbed it in using my finger.

(Making waves...lol!) 

I used some Picket Fence Distress Ink to go all around the edges and

really rub that into the bottom of the water where it would meet the sand.

Heat dry between inks.

Then I applied Glossy Accents heavily on all the edges and hit it wih heat.

Let it BUBBLE! Then do the GA over the entire water piece. And heat heavily on those peaks.

It looks like bubbles of foaming waves. But it's not ready yet... 

... till I tipped the waves with some white gesso.

I went over all the bubbled areas with the gesso also.

Now came the SAND.

I did this from TH Warm Kraft Stock Stack- Warm.

First, I laid the water on top of the Kraft Stock so I could use the corner of my

TH Ink Blending Tool to gently mark out where the sand ended-

using Distress Oxide in Ground Espresso.

I highlighted the front bottom of the sand with DO Antique Linen.

That would be the focal point of my "people".

That dark line you see is where I wanted the waterline to meet the sand.

The water near the shore is usually darker because it's wet.

I got out some stash paper and started stacking up on the main TH Thinlits die The Park.

After I used Glossy Accents to stack about 3 cuts,

I used my TH Tiny Scissors to trim away from the folks that which they wouldn't need

in order to fit into clothes like this...

Use the base you just made to fit the clothes by fussy cutting.

The last part was making the "sky" out of another sheet of the TH Kraft Stock in light blue.

Running a bit of the DI Picket Fence back and forth across the sheet, allowed me to highlight it.

The three parts together really look GOOD- like what you'd see on the Emerald Coast.

This section is highlighting Tim Holtz's newest Thinlits Colorize Die: WOODGRAIN!

There was some discussion on Facebook's Tim Holtz Addicts page on how to save the instructions for the new Colorize line of TH Dies. I put in my 2cents worth and I'll show it here in photos.

To remind myself how the cuts of each die is assembled together, I use my iPhone 12Pro to take screenshots of certain parts that help me where I may be having a bit of trouble after first going through the video in full. I then file those photos with the make I did and I can run back through and reference it when I need to. The plus; I can refer to the photos as I work and not have to replay and replay and replay... you know the deal there. ;)

And, best of all; the dies themselves help you get your cuts into the right order.

Choosing the colors is a new experience, but very EASY to put together!

Here's my idea for this make: using some tossed out onion mesh (ORANGE color!)

to help the cut up Woodgrain look like sand dune barriers. And it worked!

Here's are 2 photos of the tools with some available tool links:

Sizzix Chapter 1 Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set - Woodgrain, Colorize 665860

Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set - Paper Village #2 665585

Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Kushgrip Snip w/Non-Stick Blade & Cap 7"-Small T817

Tim Holtz Tonic Studios 9.5" Black Kushgrip Titanium Shears TTS00819

Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool + 2 Blending Foams IBT23616

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Chipped Sapphire TIM27119

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Picket Fence TIM407

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Antique Linen

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Ground Espresso

Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents GAC17042

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayons - Set #2 TDBK47919

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayons - Set #10 TDBK51800

                                                 And HERE is the finished make; 

                                   I'm imagining myself back down in the South,

                                            at Beasly Park on the Emerald Coast!

After I took those photos, I sprinkled some water drops on top of the 

panel and swiped it off quickly- it puffed out some of the sky and sand,

which made it look all the more textured.

See how the light in my Craft Studio shined on the top?

It looks as if the sun is coming up in the morning and they are catching the wind!

Now it's YOUR TURN!

Even if the weather is not allowing you to get outside to a park, we all still have memories

of that place we loved to play in.  So get out your stamps, dies, mixed media or embellishments

that remind you of what you might see on a beautiful sunny day in the park.

Make a Tag, Panel, or even a 3D project and bring the outdoors into your craft space!

Don't forget to upload a photo of your make on

The Funkie junkie Boutique Challenge Blog: Sunday in the Park

and YOU may win a $25 Gift Certificate from our Sponsor;

The Funkie Junkie Boutique !

I had a WONDERFUL time up in Oswego, New York, spending time with our soon-not-to-be

youngest Grandbaby, Pecan (Jamie)! The kids have a lot of work yet to do on the house, but when

your kids all do everything on their own, it's nice to be able to give them extra help, and take

their kids for a time, so they can rest. I get the bonus end of it: time with my Grandbabies!

We all went to see Fort Ontario while we were there- no time for Niagra Falls just yet. The fort was definitely MY kind of thing! That Primitive Americana style is never going to go out of style in my home! I just LOVE HISTORY and am very lucky that my kids also love seeing how our past was lived.

We back-tracked in order to share Easter together- Jamie and his Memaw!

If you look closely, the chalk we did says "Jamie's House in New York!"

Got his first ride on Memaw's toy with Memaw.

Papaw brought it with to help take down trees in the backyard- they have a view of Lake Ontario!

Yep; my younger Son runs this!

(That's STEAM, folks. Chill; I hadda ask that myself, thinking that was pollution! lol)

It's the first time we've ever been able to see what a facility (where he works) looks like this close up.

Fort Ontario- a port city that took in thousands of Jewish refugees during the 1930s/1940s.

The refugees were housed here until they could secure other residence. 

Yeah... I LOVE this!!

This lock was as huge as my hand. 

Like my younger Daughter commented to me: "You're never getting out ALIVE with this!"

The beautiful younger NEW YORKERS!

Oh, yeah... and the Wave-Seeker!

The Baby Jamie Shark; our Wittle Pecan!

Pecan conked out while we ate Coney Dogs on the waterfront.

On our way back to Indiana, we had some GREAT news;

Holli had a 3D Ultrasound -those are cool, or what?!

We got to see our GrandDaughter's face!!

We also were told the name she has now. I'm plumped up my feathers to find out I guessed it!

But it just made sense and sounds so VERY CUTE!

I'll let you know... ;)

The SAD news we got was the death of one of my Nieces, Lyndia. She'd been through the wringer;

giving up her lower leg in order to help save her life over this past winter. I was told she

went into the hospital with blood clotting in the past few days. Since we know what that's like when the ChiefHubby went through it; how life-threatening that can be- prayers immediately were asked

for and went up. But GOD makes the final decision and Lyndia knew this. She was one heck of a brave - and so beautiful!- girl.... woman...Wife... and Mom.

I'll ask that anyone and everyone reading this:

the condolences are appreciated, but even MORE;

PLEASE PRAY FOR LYNDIA'S FAMILY. 

Prayer is powerful and works- she knew this also, and trusted in it. Thank you !!

Until next time...

Stay SAFE &

HAPPY BLOGGING!!

The FJBChallenge #3; Groundhog Day!.... & SSS Monday Challenge; Hearts.... Hands and Hearts Full !

    Life in Florida during the winter months has proven to be just as busy as any time spent down here during the summer months. And while we've been coming to this state for over 30 years now, it still has lessons to teach us. One of the biggest lessons we've learned now: fleas are very abundant here. And even while this has been the duration of coldest temps for some time (dripping with sarcasm: aren't we so lucky?), the sand and fleas apparently still thrive in it. Not so up in Indiana, and while our choice of discontinuing the flea drop medications since the death of our precious BudderCup kitty back in 2018, it never crossed our minds what our Besties do for their numerous FurryKids in this climate. We know NOW; the hard way. Poor puppy pi, Hunni Pi has suffered her first "hot spots" of her lifetime, and it has NOT been a fun learning curve. But thanks to the awesome Faithful Friends Animal Clinic, who called Hunni's Dr back

home in Indiana, they got her on track once again and she is on her way back to healthy! They set us up with everything: from shampoo to Rx meds and even furniture/carpet spray- to get rid of this menace. And, she's now on chewable flea meds- seeming not to have any sensitivity on her stomach with it- the way most Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are with lots of things. Wearing the "Cone of Shame" has been another new experience...imagine, if you can... bumping into every single thing in her path and basically being so MOPEY about it that she gets away with simply being told "don't lick!" which she does obey pretty well anyway. So that took a bit of energy and fun out of the week for all of us. Because of all of this, her first trip to any beaches has been put off for now, 

     Getting into this new couple of challenges was pretty easy- I'd had this in my mind ever since I saw another person's version of the Tim Holtz octopus stamp with watch pieces, sometime in the past month. I wanted to try the stringed theme, but with a slight twist to it. I've told about the three kitties who have come into our lives to claim us as theirs, and I figured that I'd give them their due with this make. The TFJB Challenge #3 "Groundhog Day" is about repeating; repeating patterns, colors, shapes, whatever is chosen must be repeated as in the movie of said title, where the day keeps repeating itself. And then, Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "Love or Hearts" seemed to work out perfectly along the same idea I had. All I needed, was for the "kitties" to all go along with the plan- lol.

    As for the big day of love itself; we'll be out on a 2 hour catamaran ocean cruise- sailing a reach before the following seas... of the Emerald Coast! As a sailor myself, I am excited for the trip, and the ChiefHubby really surprised me with the reservations on the 76-person boat! (COVID19 regulations apply as well as my own 'bubble-wrap' medical situation; details will be TBA since we also need to wait on the weather for the Valentine's Day Cruise). In the meantime; I may have stumbled on another version of sailing which might be easier than finding and towing another sailboat; it's called kite sailing:

Looks like FUN to me!!

  Moving on: the above TFJB Challenge of "repeating" made me think that's actually correct when you think of it: having kids is just repeating yourself and then repeating AGAIN when the kids have Grands! Those three tiny "Repeats" are our pride and joy! We already sent out packages in the mail for little Valentine surprises of their own. In the meantime- they are all thought of during this make.

The Oldest "Repeat Repeater"

The Princess "Repeater"

The Youngest Repeat "Repeater"- both his Parents are also Youngest of all.

                                          So, let's get to it!

The first thing I did was to make the hearts.

This also doubles as

REQUIREMENT for SSS Monday Challenge; Love or Hearts

The hearts were stuffed with tissues so that when the panel is stored away,

it won't crush as much.

I then took a full 8&1/2 x11 manilla cardstock sheet and used mostly Black Soot 

Distress Oxide Ink on my Craftsheet to make a basecoat of a grayish color.

After heat drying that base coat, I then used Distress Oxide Inks in Iced Spruce and Speckled Egg

(heavy on the Iced Spruce) with just a touch more of the DO Black Soot...

...and came up with a more blueish-gray hue that resembles the color of my 3 kittycats.

Tim Holtz's newer "Snarky Cats" just would not do here:

my kitties are definitely much more like TH "Crazy Cats", so these three out of the

five would work nicely along with the Octopus....whose name would come to be Lolly.

The kittes were all stamped with Distress Oxide Ink in Iced Spruce- and all pieces- including Lolly-

coated with just a touch..very lightly...of Distress Glaze in Antique Linen for that

bit of creamy white fur they each have in varied amounts.

Using Distress Regular Ink in Chipped Sapphire, I made three of the same stamped images.

(Another "repeater, obviously.) 

I then used some DO Aged Mahogany and some Distress Embossing Powder

to add some faux rust to the hearts, and edged all the kitties with more DO Iced Spruce.

And a tiny bit of edging on the kitties was made with DOxide Black Soot, for more depth.

All three sets of "repeats" getting the last depth coloring.

Ready for popdotting to a panel.

First, the octopus had to be layered by cutting each stamped image according

to the layer it would be on.

Then cutting several very thin strips of black Sizzix double-sided popdot sheets-

the black would also add to the dimension with the edges showing just a tad bit.

Adding a hat and some coloring to her suction cups...

ya'all; meet LOLLY!

Adding some hemp string ties to the hearts.

Results:

The blue is the base of the panel itself, but I took liberties with the paper confetti hearts for the

purpose of photo-taking. 

The kitties do look EXACTLY like each acts!

Lolly Octopus is, of course, myself- juggling all the love for each of our family...

the heart in her...hand?...belongs to the ChiefHubby,

while the rest of the 7 hearts are our four adult kids and the 3 Grandbabies.

We have 5 Grandpups and at least 3 GrandKitties, and our own

Hunni Pi....

what's THREE MORE?!? LOL!!!

But, that will be ALL since we'll be having all three fully vetted when we get back.

They'll be old enough by then.

REQUIREMENT: SSS Monday Challenge; Love and/or Hearts.

Lolly herself is definitely REPEATING....legs, and suction cups !!!

Chase- Kitten #2...named for Chase Utley- the playful, sneaky one.

We still have yet to get hold of him and see if he is really a HE or a SHE!

Mokie (full name is Smokie but we're calling her Mokie for Mookie Betts)

is the one that is gullible and is easy to catch.

She's also the one most afraid to trust. 

The Momma of the two kittens: Artful Dodger (calling her just Dodger).

She's no more than a kitten herself, not quite a year old yet.

Makes me want to spit nails at whomever dropped them out in our area,

as I simply cannot see how anyone can treat animals so.

Makes me very afraid of how they would treat CHILDREN or older people.

But, their heartlessness has been turned around by GOD to be a BLESSING to us!

The backside- just plain blue.

This is another 'build up' with lots of shininess mixed with roughness in texture for 

a fun-filled panel that tells yet another story of our family.

Once more, I give a huge shoutout of "THANKS!"

for everyone who stops by and for those leaving such kind comments!

I am saddened to say that this Friday; February 12th, we will  be losing

our very first Grandpup as the younger couple of kids deal with helping Baxter,

a rat terrier mix they adopted in 2013 after they were married

(aka "The Little King" of Memaw's) cross over the Rainbow Bridge.

He's was older when they adopted him, and this past year 

had an extremely rough time with being able to move.

While we will be very saddened at this loss, we also have the responsibilty to

take care of our FurryKids- in every way- as GOD commands. 

This is the tough part. But without it- we'd never know the best parts.

GODspeed to our little Baxter pup!

Join in on the crafting:

at 

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Until next time...

Stay Safe, Wear the Mask, Wash the Hands &

HAPPY BLOGGING!