love wins ~ a guest designer post for the funkie junkie boutique challenge

Happy new year everyone,
I hope that you enjoyed the holidays.

I am honored to be guest designer for the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog's current
challenge: tic tac toe. This is truly a fun challenge that Cec Wintynok is hosting
and there is no end to the possibilities; you are sure to want to join in.
To complete the challenge, simply select any vertical, horizontal or diagonal line
from the graphic below and create a project combining all three items from your chosen
 line. Be sure to visit the challenge blog here to see all of the rules, as well as gather
inspiration from the awesome FJB design team.
Let's play tic tac toe!

For my project, I have created a fancy fold card, incorporating heat embossing
as well as ribbon. Love is in the air with Valentine's day right around the corner,
so I thought it would be fun to create a themed project and get a head start on valentines.

To begin, I fold a 12x12 square of cardstock into quadrants, then once diagonally.
Use a bone folder to ensure the fold lines are crisp. Once the creases are set, push the
diagonal creases towards the middle and the paper folds into a 6x6 card that opens to
reveal the full 12x12 expanse. I love that aspect of this style card, there is so much area
 for embellishing. If you would like to see a more detailed blog describing the process
for creating fancy fold cards, click here.

Once the card base is prepared, I decide on the theme.
I die cut a square of white bristol with the organic die, leaving a bit of extended
length to weave a piece of ribbon. This ribbon is long enough to wrap the card
and tie at the side, keeping it closed. Using distress inks and distress oxide inks,
I color a length of crinkle ribbon to match my card, as it is drying I spray the
ribbon with a small amount of distress mica spray in aged brass to give a
bit of shimmer in the light. The ribbon is set aside to dry.

Next, I heat emboss a wildflower stem die cut with charred gold embossing powder.
 I coat the die cut piece with VersaMark embossing ink, sprinkling the powder
onto the ink and then set it with my heat gun.

When the embossing has cooled, I layer the piece onto three more (non-embossed)
identical die cuts and secure together.

This gives the wildflower stem dimension when it is attached to the card front,
distinguishing it further from the intricate background it sits atop.

I secure a die cut "love" sentiment to the ribbon.

With the card front complete, the inside presents so many opportunities for
personalization. Staying with my valentine theme, I add special marbled papers
 to the triangular spaces, and then begin laying out the composition.

I use heat embossed love struck cherubs, hearts and stacked words.

I leave spaces for personal love notes

and in the upper quadrant I create a frame with embossed chipboard
that a special picture can be slipped into to personalize the card even further.

I think this will be a wonderful valentine to present to someone special.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my blog.
I hope that you are inspired to create some handmade valentines and
perhaps join in the fun at the Funkie Junkie Boutique challenge.
Wishing you all a new year filled with happiness and love.
~Ann
xxx


supplies used:
bone folder
bristol
cardstock 12x12 sheet
Distress Collage Medium: matte
Distress ink
Distress Oxide ink
Distress Mica Spray
Emerald Creek Craft Supplies embossing powder: charred gold
Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts: chevron frames
Sookwang double sided adhesive
Tim Holtz Ideaology: crinkle ribbon, kraftstock,
Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations dies:
handwritten love, organic, shape strips, stacked words: valentines, wildflower stems #1
VersaMark embossing ink


   

yankee doodle daisy

The fourth of July is such an important day for this country. We gather together to celebrate the United States of America's independence as a nation. Today I am on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog sharing a patriotic piece that I created for the holiday. I love the Blue Daisy Character Constructions stamps from Catherine Moore. They have a wonderful American vibe that works so well with red, white and blue. Transforming them into my patriotic art doll nicho girls was so much fun!

I begin with two Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts art doll nichos. Each arrives in three pieces, the body, the niche (which requires a simple assembly), and a circle head piece. Whenever I create a project, I like to ensure that both the front and back are finished. For this project the backs of the art doll nichos will be painted black. The first step is to crease and fold the tabs of the niche, then add a dab of glue on each flap and secure to create the 3D form. I paint the back sides of the body forms, heads, and assembled niches with black paint and set aside to dry.

While the paint is drying, I select the stamps to use for the girl's clothing. The art doll body is slightly wider than the dress stamp I will be using. To accommodate the extra width, I stamp a blank piece of cardstock, cut out the image, and then slice it down the middle. I use these two sides to determine the extra width I will need to fit, then use this as a template for the dresses.

I trace my template onto the patterned paper and fussy cut the dress. When the extra-wide dress is cut out, I ink up one half of the stamp and cover the opposite side of the dress with a mask, then stamp the left side of the patterned dress. I allow the ink to dry and then repeat the process on the right side of the dress. The middle collar section is stamped by masking each edge and only inking the horizontal trim section of the stamp.

When the dress stamping is complete, I add trims and embellishments with glue, then set aside to dry. I cut coordinating patterned papers to fit inside the niche. These papers are adhered with Scor-tape.
The next step is stamping and coloring the dolls heads, arms and legs. I use a variety of markers, including Copics, Distress, Sharpies, and Gelly Roll pens. I then add a red rhinestone brad from  Emerald Creek to each girl's hat. Before attaching all of the pieces together, I want to complete the niche interiors. It is much easier to work this compartment before it has been secured to the body.

I die cut a mini paper rosette for each niche with coordinating papers. Each rosette is hung from a piece of craft thread. I poke a hole into the top flat portion of the niche, pass the thread through the hole, and tie a knot on the outside. Small die cut stars are scattered and glued to the niche walls and back. Once each niche is complete, it is attached to the back side of the body form. The appendages and clothing are then attached to the front of the body. The stamped and colored head is attached to the circular chipboard head piece and then attached to the front side of the neck portion of the body.

Each Daisy is waving a flag and holding the end of a banner strung between them which reads INDEPENDENCE to commemorate the fourth of July holiday.

 I have so may ideas for these art doll nichos. They can be used with doll stamps, as I have, with collage papers and paper cuts; or even with images found in magazines.
If you like to play with dolls, the art doll nicho is a great base to start with.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I really appreciate it.
 Wishing you a happy Independence Day.
God Bless America
~Ann
xxx


supplies used:
Catherine Moore Character Constructions Doll stamps:
Blue Daisy 4, Blue Daisy 5, Blue Daisy 6, French Laundry 14
Copic markers
Decorative papers: Anna Griffin, Bazzill, The Paper Studio
Distress Collage Medium: matte
Distress Markers
Dresden trim
Emerald Creek Craft Supplies: silver red rhinestone brads
Gina K amalgam ink: black
Gelly Roll pens
Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts: Art Doll Nicho
Tim Holtz Ideaology:
paper string airmail, trimmings lace,
Tim Holtz / Sizzix Alterations: label letters thinlits, mini paper rosettes strip die
Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous stamps: crazy things (flag)
Trimmings