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 Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge #8 A Study in Contrasts...Building Folder (with pun intended)!

   Happy Easter! Praise GOD that JESUS is risen! I'll play no games when it comes to this point: all my hope lay in the fact that we celebrate HIS death for the sole reason that HE conquered it once and for all time- for us. Otherwise, what would we have to look forward to that we can be sure of? This life is certainly meant to be - and is -beautiful, and a greater gift than life itself cannot be had. Yet, we will have troubles in this life. While I see brokenness in this world, I remind myself that there is always something we can do to help; pray! I'm doing my share of that and it's in my thoughts as I type this post. I know many people who are facing choices they'd rather not make, illness they'd rather not have, and feeling depression or loneliness they'd rather not go through. They've lost what they'd rather keep and cried more when they'd rather have laughed. I could go on, and none of it is anything new. What stands out is that each can say "But, it's happening to ME," and my heart breaks, even as I hold out hope. I've been there in most of those things mentioned above; that's why my hope is JESUS. And it's why we have Easter. It's not about the bunny, the chocolate, nor Peeps. Ohhh, but, hey... we like those, too! ;)

    When I need a lift, my smile returns at the mere thought of my Grandbabies. I am 100% positive I'm not the only grandma who feels that way! (I'm smiling just thinking about it!) So many of my peers are joining me in this "granny thing", and the numbers are growing by the day- literally! Just about all of our kids' classmates have recently begun their own families either by getting married or starting to fill the nursery. Most of the news of these "kids" (I think we will always think of them as kids even as we see how capable they have become as adults) somehow makes its way to me via SM, and it's a very good feeling to be able to type "Congratulations!" onto their feed. It's the best news in life; sharing news of LIFE! It was recently announced that one of our Besties is having their first Grandbaby; due the very week our own (likely) last Grandbaby is due. Then they announced it was a girl; how exciting! And we received our own news the very next evening (which was younger Son, Brett's 30th Birthday): he and Holli just had an ultrasound that morning: It's a GIRL!! How blessed we feel to have 2 boys and 2 girls!! I actually sat and cried that next afternoon when I realized how 'perfect' GOD chose to give to us: 10 in our family. "Ten" numerically means "complete". On the other hand, if it turns out that it's not....lol....there'll always be room for more nuts on the Larimore Family Tree. I'm thinking this one's an Almond. ;)

    The Funkie Junkie Boutique's newest Challenge is titled "A Study in Contrasts" with Lisa heading up this one. She's asking for us to highlight contrasts in our project, saying: "It could be themes, colors, textures or forms. We are looking forward to seeing your creative interpretations and juxtapositions of things that are contrasting!" I took on her idea in more than one way- scroll on!

My project began with one simple item- an old hanging file folder.

Get out your favorite cutting and scoring tools, and you're set to use your imagination!

I started by removing the metal hangars (carefully- they're usually pretty sharp)

and used the edges as a straight line to cut against for trimming off the folded edges.

I then set them out to the recycle barrel.

I kept the trimmed folded edges and sanded the cut sides a bit.

(Later, I'll wish I had sanded the inside glue residue- just to make sure it didn't end up in my photos!)

I set the trimmed, sanded edges aside and just from folding, knew I needed to trim off 

a bit more from one side of the folder's top or bottom. Otherwise, it would overlap.

I knew I wanted to keep as many of the folds already there as possible.

So I chose 2 of those folds- the top (opposite of the excess trimmed top)

and the very last fold of the bottom.

As for making other folds: I wanted 2, so I scored at 5 inches and 10 inches.

You'll note from the photo above that the very far right is wider- to fold into 3 parts.

The key to getting any fold to lay flat: cut 'darts' or a V shape instead of just cutting straight.

This gives each edge some room when you fold them into the same shared space.

This means cutting that dart (or V shape) at each fold.

You can see I used my TH Sheers for this- to make one longer, smoother slice, rather than

using a shorter set of blades and shorter movements. 

It was pretty easy to just follow the folded line, cutting along each side.

 

This is what I had when I finished the folding and cutting.

As completely folded.

I originally thought I might use my 3D Folders-

I'd gotten caught up with inspiration from TFJB's Saturday Showcase,

but space became a factor causing me to keep my inside design flat.

I wanted one pocket and this is where those cut off folded edges came in...

...one on each side, with the bottom folded up: a nice big pocket!

I still had one more cut off edge, so I took a 'page' from Tim Holtz' Folio

(which I have one for each Grandchild made up, and 2 more saved back, "just in case"

I got more...lol!)

and decided to put in extra pages here.

You'll see these in the finished photos below.

And then I got out some of my fave patterns of Tim paperie;

and began simply measuring each page for its cover paper.

I waited until very LAST to adhere all the paper covers onto the folder parts.

The folder would have expanded and made it harder to design the front and back.

I actually did this last, but stuck the photo in at this point.

Inking some contrasting color along all the Tim paper edges and corners.

I did this by holding each in one hand, instead of flat on the Glass Mat.

That way, the color stood out more starkly, or so I thought.

After heat-drying each of the covers, I set them all aside so I could work on the

front and back covers of the folder while it was as flat as possible.

The first thing I did: use one of my fave TH Stamp Sets (Architecture).

After seeing this same stamp used by an entry in the last Challenge:

Jo, at Let's Art Journal

I made a decision after that "Blustery Challenge" to use my stamps and stencils more.

Practice makes perfect, only if I try!

I fell in love with her embossed stamping that stood out yet stayed in the background,

and thought it was a good start to handle.

I actually managed to stamp and emboss each only ONE TIME successfully,

without two tons of rethinking each move. Progress!

Thanks, Jo, for that inspiration!!

That gave me one part of my planned contrast in textures.

Next up: stencil practice- for more texture contrast.

This is always fun for me, but challenging to decide where and how much to use it.

I'm deciding to JUST DO IT and live with what it is.

Being picky can come later- after mastering not making a complete mess, lol.

You'll note here: the TH Stencil is actually backwards...

...that was done so I could flip it and match the two sides together.

After it dried, I used my TH Sander to rub a bit off where it met together and smooth it out.

Some edging done in Distress Ink to the stamped image, 

and Distress Crayon to the Window and Quote Chip...

...more Distress to the metal IdeaOlogy pieces, and a bit of (retired) Distress Emboss

for rusty Mini Gears... adding to the conrasting texture- as well as 

CONTRASTNG COLORS for that 'pop' needed.

The leftover from all the cutting whispered to me that it all wanted to be

used as inserts for more journaling/photo space inside the folder.

Yeah, I'm deaf.

But I swear to you; this stuff TALKS to me!! ;)

Instead of making them into Tags, I got out the TH Tiny Attacher to keep

the smaller pieces together with a larger. It also helped keep everything flat.

My main Tools and Materials:

(Click on the wording for info link.)

Prima Marketing Peach Tea Flowers

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Baseboards Window Frames

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Dolls Solo

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Clips

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Vintage Flair (Buttons)

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Grit Paste Opaque (New Packaging)

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Ground Espresso

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Saltwater Taffy

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Salvaged Patina

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Squeezed Lemonade

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Picket Fence

Sizzix Tim Holtz 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Mini Mechanics

Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tiny Attacher

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Palette Knives 2pc

Tim Holtz Tonic Studios 9.5" Black Kushgrip Titanium Shears

The Finished Project

We've been doing more "building"- mostly fixing things that need being redone

here in the Indiana house. Hopefully, we'll get both the inside and outside projects caught up before the summer gets here and allows us time to spend with family and friends.

You can tell- from my choices here- it's been on my mind. 

I played with the wording since it was both building the folder as well

as being a "Building Folder" where I could tuck in notes or photos along the way.

I scrubbed some of that yummy TH Distress Oxide in Salvaged Patina across this

after using the Tim Holtz 3D "Mechanics" Texture Fade (regular size).

(I listed the Mini -which I found available- above.)

Yes; I did choose to leave some parts uncovered.

This file folder had a nice shade of brown, whereas the rest of them I had

were all a greenish color. So I was tempted to leave some of the brown showing.

Fully opened...

...with flipping pages in the upper right corner panels.

YES! I couldn't resist the matching shade of Tim's newest Distress color Saltwater Taffy!!

These little blossoms are just the perfect touch here- so SPRING!

The color contrasted so nicely with TH Distress Paint Salvaged Patina used on the Industrial piece.

 Those same Peach Tea Prima Marketing as used in my previous projects:

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Saturday Showcase

and

TFJB Challenge #7 April Showers Bring May Flowers

Tim's IdeaOlogy Paper Dolls are just too much fun!

I was very pleased it worked out well as a flat folder that could show off some nice photos.

Now it's YOUR TURN!

Grab one of those old files and use it for the backing

- keep it simple, or go for more complicated than I did.

Stack on some layers of contrasting papers, colors, or textures.

Add a few bits and bobs, and ribbon for some fun.

Write in a sentiment, and you've got an instant card for a gift!

It's that easy!

Be sure to follow the simple rules and upload a photo of your make at 

The Funkie Junkie Challenge Blog "A Study in Contrasts"

YOU could win a $25 GC

Sponsored by:

The Funkie Junkie Boutique

THANKS! for all the LOVE in likes and SWEET comments for all my recent projects!

I've been so inspired by so many hugely talented folks out there,

so I must give credit where it's due; it's all about sharing ideas!

I hope my take on these makes inspire others to take up their

tools and go one step...or more...further!

GOD willing; there's always more to come. ;)

Until next time...

Stay Safe &

HAPPY BLOGGING!