‘Blessings’ *Top 3 Pick for FJB

Another great challenge going on over at Frilly and Funkie blog for Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Description for the challenge:

“Hi! Suzz here. I am back to bring your our final challenge for this year! We will be hosting the challenge for the next two weeks and then we will all be off until the New Year!

December for many of us is a time where we give and receive. That had me thinking about the most memorable gifts I have received over the years. These including a signed book from one of my favorite authors, handwritten notes from my children, a singing hot dog condiment stand and the first gift my husband gave me when we were dating. I want you to be inspired by one of your most memorable gifts. Use that inspiration to create a vintage or shabby chic project. You can make a card, a tag, share a journal entry or any kind of project you desire. Just be sure to mention the memorable gift and how it inspired your creation”.  

So, for some odd reason I am not good at recalling memories, stories, events and such. This was a true challenge for me due to nothing jumping out at me, let alone creating a project to go along with it. I kept at it though and finally decided on what I wanted to focus on. Not a gift I received but one I have been blessed to give. Bear with me (remember I said I wasn’t a story teller) ……

I was raised by my, god bless his soul, father from the time I was three. When my husband and I were expecting our first child back in December of 1997, I knew what I wanted most of all for my kids, to be a stay at home mom. I gave up my career of 15 years as a automotive designer, made budget adjustments and made it happen. As the kids kept coming ~ 3 under 2 1/2 I thought maybe I was a bit off my rocker for wanting to still stay at home. Oh there were trials, let me tell you but not a day goes by (even today) that I would change that decision made some 20 years ago. In all actually, I do receive gifts and daily because of what wonderful, well rounded, smart, confident and loving kids we have raised.

If you get a chance, head on over to Frilly and Funkie and check out the projects, link to the blogs and read the memories. There are some really great, uplifting stories being shared.

It was a bit difficult capturing pictures of the tag due to the mirrored hearts and the reflective properties. I used white Stazon with SA TH collection Swirly Snowflakes and the snowfall background stamp. I also stenciled Transparent glossy texture paste through THS050, added silver embossing powder, let dry and then used heat tool.

TH Christmas paper dolls represent my three kids playing in our acre and half treed lot. I wanted a more solid tree from the TH Sizzix thinlits so I cut them out of a deep green kraft core and the deep brown. Then placed the brown ‘inners’ in the spots of the green die cut, if that makes sense.  The frame panel was distressed with stain, THD paint in weathered wood to Ranger crackle paint and applied with finger randomly. Gave it a chippy paint feel.

For blessing I used grunge board alphas. Base of THD picket fence paint, glossy accents then dipped in distress glitter dust. The color is fabulous! not to gold, not to silvery, perfect vintage 😉

I used chipboard for the words, the base is THD paint in picket fence, then used finger to apply brushed pewter. Used rub ons and big chat for words

The bow is TH satin ribbon sprayed with brushed pewter mica spray. I also used metallic paper with the bow thinlits (both big and small), then ran through texture fades embossing folder then used bell brad to hold together.

Thank you for viewing and have a wonderful Christmas! xo