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Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Christmas Gift Card Holders


It is time for the new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.  Sara Emily is our hostess for this one called It's A Wrap. Here is what she has to say about it:

Whenever I hear this term, I think of something that's finished or completed. But for this challenge, we want you to share your vintage or shabby chic gift wrapping, gift box or bag or perhaps a set of gift tags. Or maybe you might take a different approach and use a wrap die cut or gift packaging on your project -- just be sure to tell us what your 'wrap' is if it's not obvious!

When I saw this challenge I immediately knew that I needed to work on something for Christmas. Since there is zero chance I am going shopping at the mall during a pandemic, I will doing most of the shopping for Christmas online. I have Grandchildren that are at the age where they want to select their own gifts so I decided on gift card holders for this challenge. I normally take them shopping for their birthday, give them a budget and they pick their own presents and along with lunch out that Grandma buys, they walk away very happy. This year they got gift cards purchased online at stores where they like to shop in person but can shop online. It wasn't as much fun for me but it worked and I can see Christmas being much of the same although I do plan to ask their Mother for a shopping list of things I can buy online. I am getting quite proficient at hitting the SUBMIT button since I am buying everything online, including groceries right now.

I made a quartet of very simply decorated but different gift card holders. Since some e-gift cards can be cut into the shape of an normal gift card, a couple of the holders will accommodate that type but when you print from some sites, you have to fold the gift card so two of the holders are made with space to accommodate that type.


For all of the holders I used the Festive Greens and Holiday Greens die sets from Tim Holtz. If they are no longer available in the store I will link to suggested alternatives. Since I am on a mission to use up leftovers and scraps in my stash I also used leftovers from a couple of Graphic 45 Christmas paper pads that were in my stash along with some of the Metallic card stock pads from Tim Holtz.



  • Cut a strip of card stock 4" wide x 8 1/2" long
  • On the long side score at 2 1/2", 2 7/8", 5 7/8" and 6 1/4"
  • Fold all score lines and burnish with bone folder
  • Cut patterned paper to cover the back, front bottom and front top (I cut mine so it was 1/16" smaller on all four sides)
  • Ink edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink
  • Cut two pieces of card stock 1 3/8" wide x 2 3/8" long for the gussets
  • Score on the short side at 1/2" and 5/8"
  • Fold gussets and burnish with bone folder
  • Adhere to the inside of the front bottom and back with double sided tape
  • Add velcro fasteners or make a belly band to keep holder shut
  • Decorate as desired - I just added a fussy cut element from the paper and a pair of die cut holly leaves with adhesive pearls

For the next one, I was inspired by a little double flip box that I found online HERE. I used the template shown on the blog but did my own measurements and actually messed up when I did the outside so the top isn't quite as flat as it should be. I will explain in the instructions.



  • Cut one piece of card stock 5 5/8" x 4 3/8
  • On the long side score at 1/2", 1", 4 5/8" and 5 1/8"
  • Cut out sections and angle edges as shown on the template
  • Fold to create box bottom
  • Cut one piece of card stock 8 7/8" x 3 1/2"
  • On long side score at 2", 2 1/2", 6 3/8" and 6 7/8" - the centre section needs to be at least 1/4" longer than the box bottom and I only added 1/8"
  • Cut out sections and angle edges as shown on the template
  • Fold to create double flip top
  • Die cut a label for the closure
  • Add magnets to right side of flip top and to back of the label closure
  • Cut patterned paper for both sides of the flip top inside and out as well as the back of the label closure
  • Adhere the box bottom to the inside bottom of the double flip top piece making sure it is centred
  • Decorate as desired - I used the Festive Greens die set and Gold Metallic card stock



  • Cut one piece of card stock 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" for base
  • Cut patterned paper to fit base and ink edges with Vintage Photo DI
  • Cut one piece of card stock 3" x 4 1/2" for a mat and centre over base
  • Cut one piece of card stock 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
  • On long side score at 2 3/4" and fold like a card
  • Dye a strip of seam binding with Antique Linen DI and attach to outside of folded card to act as a closure
  • Adhere folded card to mat
  • Cut three pieces of patterned paper to fit insides and the front, ink edges and adhere
  • Fussy cut an element from the paper pad and add to inside as pocket
  • Decorate inside and front



  • Cut one piece of patterned paper 3 1/2" x 7 1/4"
  • On long side score at 3 5/8"
  • Cut a thumb notch at one end using a circle punch
  • Fold and adhere with a narrow strip of double sided tape on each side
  • Cut a piece of patterned paper 3 3/4" x 3"
  • On short side score at 1 1/2" and fold
  • Adhere the pocket section to the inside of the top and add Velcro closures
  • Decorate as desired - I used a mixture of die cuts and plain and metallic card stock

I hope you will join us for the challenge. It runs until 11:55 pm EST on Tuesday, September 1st. One randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and the Design Team will choose their top four picks with the overall winner receiving an invitation to be a Guest Designer at a future date.

Supplies list:

Sizzix Alternations Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies - Holiday Greens 658759
Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits Die Set - Funky Festive Florals 664221
Graphic 45 - Christmas Magic - 8x8" Pad
Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Kraft Stock
Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Jewels Kraft Stock
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo TIM19527
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Antique Linen TIM19497
Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965
Scor Tape
Rayon Seam Binding
Graphic 45 St. Nicholas 8"x8" Paper Pad
Tim Holtz Festive Greens Thinlets Die Set

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Saturday Showcase at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.


I am presenting the Saturday Showcase at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog and here is a sneak peek at what I created..  Think small!

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Stenciled Canvas


Today is the start of the new challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog.  Jenny is our hostess for this one and she is calling it Stencilmania.  Here is how she describes it:

Stencils are such versatile tools - you can add colour through them, add texture and patterns with them, draw with them, emboss with them, print with them and so much more. So for this challenge we want you to get creative with your stencils, adding as many layers as you dare to create a vintage or shabby chic project to share with us all.

I thought it might be fun to make a mixed media canvas this time and here is how it came together.

I started with a round canvas that is 7 3/4" in diameter and was cut by my husband from the heavy chipboard that you find inside the vinyl covers of three ring binders - crafter's recycling at its finest.



Next I gave both sides a good coat of White Gesso (Dina Wakley) and then added some stenciling with Texture Paste (Ranger). I used the Bubble and Burlap stencils (Tim Holtz) and one I call Cracks that my husband made for me.


The canvas was covered with Aloe Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley) and then using my ratty bristle brush I added some Sand Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley).


I added lots of colour next using Burnt Orange and Roast Chestnut IZink Pigment Inks (Seth Apter) and Umber, Cheddar and Sedona Scribble Sticks(Dina Wakley)

Using a Sizzix Circles Die Set I cut a couple of circles from cracker boxes, coated them with White Gesso on the plain side and then painted the larger one with Umber Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley) and the smaller one with Sand Acrylic Paint (Dina Wakley).


I wanted a bit of interest on the larger circle so I thought maybe I could get a wet or tone on tone pattern look by adding some Walnut Stain Distress Oxide (Tim Holtz) through the burlap stencil (Tim Holtz). It did look wet but wasn't very visible. I took my heat gun to it to set it and was surprised but happy to see the stenciling turn a lighter colour and pop against the dark brown.


The next step was to colour the butterfly, which is a die cut from the Tattered Butterflies set (Tim Holtz). I used the Burnt Orange and Roast Chestnut IZink Pigment Inks and then coloured the body with Umber Acrylic Paint.


Embellishments were prepared next. A strip of French Design Tape (Tim Holtz) was added to a piece of card stock. Some drywall tape was painted with Sand Acrylic Paint and a Small Talk Sticker (Tim Holtz) was inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz).

To assemble the canvas, I layered each circle on dimensional foam, and then added the butterfly to the top circle along with some thread. Each embellishment strip was added next and finally I removed the backs from some brads and added them to the drywall tape.

I hope you will join us. The challenge runs until 11:55 pm EDT, Tuesday, August 18th. One randomly chosen winner wilkl receive a gift certificate to shop at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and the Design Team will choose their 4 top picks with the overall winner receiving an opportunity to be a Guest Designer at a future date.

Dina Wakley Media Mediums - White Gesso MDM41689
Dina Wakley Heavy Body Paint - Aloe - 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paint - Sand - 1oz Bottle
Dina Wakley Media Acrylic Paint - Umber, 1 oz Bottle
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Bubble THS002
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencils - Burlap THS007
Tim Holtz Distress Texture Paste 3oz Crackle TDA71303
Seth Apter Izink Pigment - Burnt Orange 80640
Seth Apter Izink Pigment - Roast Chestnut 80638
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Walnut Stain
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Antique Linen TIM19497
Dina Wakley Media Scribble Sticks MDA54733
Dina Wakley Media Scribble Sticks 2
Tim Holtz Idea-ology French Design Tape
Tim Holtz Sizzix Bigz Die - Tattered Butterfly by Tim Holtz
Scor Tape Tim Holtz Small Talk Idea-ology Stickers
Making Memories Brads
Gutterman Black Thread
Drywall Tape
Sizzix Circles Framelits Die Set
Handmade Cracks Stencil