Eileen Hull Journal with Seth Apter Stamps and Dies

It's time for a new challenge at Frilly and Funkie and our fabulous hostess Suzz has chosen the theme On the Cutting Edge.  She say, "Having recently acquired some beautiful new dies I thought it might be time to bring them out and show them off.  This challenge is all about using your dies, punches or other cutting tools to create a masterpiece featuring at least one die cut / punched image.   Make sure your art is in the vintage or shabby chic style and incorporates a die cut or punch."

I was inspired to use the infamous Eileen Hull Journal Scoreboards XL Die by Sizzix.  This die is causing quite the stir in the crafting world and I couldn't wait to try my hand with it!  I played with a couple of these Seth Apter Ray of Light dies and found a happy composition, which fit perfectly onto the journal cover.

I covered the dies with Prima texture pastes and then watered Vintage Photo Distress Oxide to tone it down, wiping away as needed.  I wanted to make some contrast in between the rays, so I created an overlay for my journal.

I cut my watercolor paper to size and then cut out the two shapes to make a frame for my inlaid textured dies.  Around that, I cut some holes with the Tim Holtz Mixed Media dies.  I often use texture paste for this, but created a reverse effect for my cover by using the MM dies.

I decided the smallest of Seth's Coffee Ring Dies would make a great frame over the circles in the ray die.  I embossed them in Wendy Vecchi's Watering Can EP twice to create an enamel effect.  Later I added a third larger circle to complete the look.  I mixed in a Paper Doll and some ephemera with a Quote Chip.  The cloth label was a gift from my friend Carol from IKEA.  I hand cut the gentleman's crown and embossed it with gold EP.

I glued a Clipola paper clip to frame his face.  What a whimsical character!  :)

I treated my cover with a variety of Distress Oxides and embossed a Carabelle Studio text stamp in white for contrast.  I splashed on some black gesso and outlined everything with a fine black pen.

I don't have any elastic, so I punched more holes in the center and used a pamphlet stitch and waxed linen to bind my pages.  I attached this awesome snip of upholstery tacks with brads.  My fabulous teamie Sara Emily gave me this when we met up at the beach - love love love!  Thanks sweetie!   Here's a gaze at my inserts.  I used TH Memoranda paper to cover some loose-leaf grid paper, that I cut to size.

Not many flaps and fussy elements inside.  I want to use this to actually write on the paper, so I left out that kind of bulk.

The back inked up so well that I actually wished I could use it to start a new journal and make a second back for this one.  Ha!  But time didn't allow.  I used matte Mod Podge to adhere the die cut overlay to the front cover and then decided to seal the entire cover with MP.  The feel of it is great!

How about you?  What dies are you itching to put to action?  Break them out and play along!  We'd love to have you join our challenge.  One lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card to the Funkie Junkie Boutique!

Do you want to learn more about creating books and mini albums?  Would you like another opportunity to win a Funkie Junkie Boutique gift card?  Follow along with my new blog, Mini Album Makers, which will be filled with book making tutorials, showcasing even more Funkie Junkie products!

(APRIL pre-order) Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Journal by Eileen Hull 661906	Seth Apter Mark Makers Stamp Set	(February Pre-order) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Quote Chips	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Embossing Powder - Watering Can
Spellbinders Seth Apter Coffee Ring Dies	Spellbinders Shapeabilities Seth Apter Ray of Light Etched Dies	Ranger Embossing Powder - Gold - Super Fine Detail	(February Pre-order) Prima Art Extravagance - Patina Effect Paste Set 3pcs 50ml
(February Pre-order) Tim Holtz Idea-ology 12 x 12 Paper Stash Memoranda	Sizzix® Thinlits™ Die Set 4PK - Mixed Media by Tim Holtz®	(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Vintage Photo	(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Iced Spruce
(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Cracked Pistachio	(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Faded Jeans	VersaMark Watermark Ink Stamp Pad	Ranger Embossing Powder - White

I'm also sharing with:

PaperArtsy: Topic #11 - Books

(I was inspired by THIS post, the size, the composition, the colors)

13@rts: Abstract Art

Country View Crafts: Blue and Green

Creative Artiste: Always Anything Mixed Media Goes

 That's Crafty: Anything But a Card

AALL and Create: ITAC'17 - Challenge 1 Europe

A face - Gentleman

Papers - Patterned Paper & Grid Paper

Letters, numbers - Text Stamp on Cover & Words

Blue for the colour of the European Union, Union Jack - Blues & Greens

Ribbon, twine, string or lace - Waxed Linen and Twine

Textures – take inspiration from history from ancient civilisations to the fall of the Berlin Wall - Texture with the Circle Die Cut

Something both vintage and modern - Vintage Images with Modern Graphic Design Die Cut

#itac17 #itac17challenge1 #aallandcreate