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 #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!!