Big news comes with this posting: a change at The Funkie Junkie Boutique! Instead of hosting Challenges, it's going to be all about inspiration! The new name is Inspirational Ave, and you can read the details HERE. I'm humbled to take the first turn and hope those of you who have been looking in on my projects, will continue to do so, and follow the new simple rule for a chance to win a $25 shopping spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique! The projects are going to be amped up a notch with lots of new products and it's promising to be a really FUN ride, so come along with us!
I'm still in New York, helping the younger set of kids with things while they adjust to the newest of our Grandbabies, but also during the long hours Daddy must put in during this time of year. While he's busy at work, we've been keeping plenty busy! When we want to get out of the house with both kids, there's so many beautiful parks to play in and places to see. It's especially nice for Little Man Jamie because it's his favorite time of year; Halloween! I have no idea why my Grandbabies and Kids all like this holiday so much. I mean, I am the "pumpkin" having been born in October of 19.... Hahaha; nice try! As I was saying- we take walks nearly every day around any one park and look for what Pecan calls "Boo Houses" (any house with pumpkins or Halloween decorations out). Oswego is definitely a "Halloweeny" town! They have all kinds of festivals all through this month, with lots of activities for kids and teens. And that's really GOOD; keep kids out of trouble by helping them have fun! In any case, I've definitely been given a few funny jolts at some of the amazing ways people come up with in house decorating. You'll see some pics after the project, so let's just get to it since it's rather related....
I needed to make a shell/cover for the book I wanted to make from an old hanging file folder,
so I got out my (discontinued as far as I know) Eileen Hull Pocket Notebook Die.
The inside pages were to come from one of my Tim Holtz Memoranda stacks.
These next pics will show you how I not only cut the cover from the file folder,
but also, how I layered my cover together.
I began with a simple fold that would fit along the FOLD side of the Pocket Notebook's cover cut.
I did first remove all the metal flat pieces and put them into the recycling bin.
Then decided to keep the original side folds. I did need to trim the middle layers set.
(in this case, these are TH Blackout big scraps leftover from some other project)
just a bit so they can layer together onto the holes.
Here is where I divided one of my fave gifted papers (from a Bestie):
an older Tim Holtz Vellum from the old 12x12 stack of years ago!
I wanted that guy to be my "new Doctor" for this book & you'll see why in just a few pics.
Here are the die cut layers-
they're all the same size but don't look so since I was at a higher angle with my cam.
Since the TH Vellum was a different size than the file folder, I had to measure and make the folds.
Now you can see each layer ready to put together:
starting from the bottom
Here, you can see I'm using a good Score Tape since it sticks rather well.
Wet glues will make any vellum curl up as it dries.
I used the lines on the Vellum to help hide the tape better from the right side of the sheet.
This came together by happenstance...
I had that TH Found Relatives Card tucked away for ages!
THANK YOU, DEBB!!
Next was a little play with both the (new to me) TH Skull & Crossbones
STILL AVAILABLE at TFJB!
and some TH Foundry Wax!
Then I started simply playing around with an idea for a moving element- a FIRST for me!
Then expanded on it with other TH things in my drawer from Halloweens past.
I'll be back in Indiana -for a few weeks anyway- before Halloween. I'm more hopeful now that
all our Grandbabies will be able to finally enjoy this holiday for the first time in their young lives- no thanks to Covid19, for sure. The ChiefHubby's company (retired member) was finally able to go back to having their Annual Picnic, and since the older Son works there also, we took the older 2 Grandbabies for them to be able to finally enjoy a r4eal carnival type of picnic. They hire out all kinds of rides, blowup runs, etc. The food is all catered- and always very good, for almost 5,000 people. I was a tiny bit put out that our younger Grandbabies were too far away to enjoy it... and ended up going with them to a Festival up here where Pecan got to enjoy all the same fun! The kids are 2 (just 2 more months will be 3, 3&1/2, and 5&1/2.... yet, just now getting to go places and do things they couldn't do with Covid stealing that time from them. I sure hope we're passed all of it now. So here's some pics for you to see the FUN I've been having as a Memaw; we truly do recieve more than we aim at giving, and we are so very BLESSED !
This is TIM HOLTZ Manion Die to a T!!!
And if you think THIS is creepy...
This house WON, in moho!!
And the Warewolf MOVED!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!
Enjoying this PRECIOUS time!!!
Princess Judith Rose is the happy, sleepy, SMILEY baby... when she wants to wake up, lol!
I'm currently staying in Upstate New York, with the younger set of kids, and enjoying some time with the two youngest (and newest) Grandbabies. Princess Rose is growing like a weed- having put on a couple of pounds now and almost a full inch longer, already. Her Big Bubby Pecan is matching that growth spurt, and keeping this Memaw hopping during the day. He is full of toddler energy! The weather hasn't been so great, and I'm hoping it clears up so we can take more walks to enjoy the warmer temps while they're still here. The pumpkins and cider apples are everywhere, and I'm fully eating my share! I had a sad day from last week when we not only closed up the pool but also took up my sailboat from her slip. How much can a mermaid take in one day?! I at least had a little fun getting The Wind In Her Sail out on the water; my only time other than putting her out. It's been a very busy summer. I'm truly hoping to take her down to bluewater with me when we head south back to our Florida home.
Of course, I'm caught up with Queen Elizabeth II's death and funeral. I've always been intrigued by the Royal Family in it's full extent over Europe, and the history that goes with. While I've not always agreed with Her Royal Majesty's decisions, I can say that I've watch her change immensely over the years- especially between the years of Princess Diana's death, and HRH Prince William's marriage to Kate. If I had my way; I'd skip entirely over Charles as King and put William on the throne. In moho; William is far better the man for the job, if for only how he runs his own household and the way he treasures his own family. His sense of duty has far outweighed the former Prince of Wales, and greatly so; the PoW before Charles, of course. But the Queen made her wishes known, and I feel it's still terribly important for the reason of being head of one of the leading free countries left in the world with the US. Our friendship is as important as our need was to separate ourselves for our own freedom in 1776. My prayers went out to them simply because she was their Mother and Grandmother. I can definitely relate to that.
Our Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge fits in with the thought of others: "Friendship" is the theme this time. Laura has this to say about it: "Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends leave footprints on your heart. Create a project celebrating a friendship that has left footprints on your heart." In my case, I call these people "Besties". I am blessed in the ones who are mine, and I have more than a few scattered over the US. I chose to make something for the small group I see every week (both weekdays and weekends) at church. Follow along with me and see what I've created for them!
I started out with these older Tim Holtz IdeaOlogy Pocket Cards,
wanting to decorate them with Tim Holtz products on how I see my Besties
are in their character and in their work, life, and likes.
I used Distress Oxide in Ground Espresso to ink up the Pocket Cards for their backgrounds.
These are shown on the backsides.
Then I went through several of my Tim Holtz products (but, egad, not all I have, lol!)
to find items matching each personality.
After I chose all the ephemera and IdeaOlogy items,
I kept each set separate by bagging them up into clear treat bags I always keep on hand for Tags.
I got out my Distress Crayon Sets for some coloring fun on TH Found Relatives
TH Paper Dolls, and TH Paper Doll Portraits.
Gotta use some Ephemera Snippets Number Strips and IdeaOlogy Mini Gears and
Long Fasteners along with those Paper Dolls!
A bit of Distress Crayon in Tumbled Glass for the PDoll and
some Salvaged Patina Distress Paint for the Mini Gears looked fine.
