Graphic 45 Love Notes Easel Card for Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog

I Love It Because...Challenge at The Frilly and Funkie Blog

This is a great challenge because you only have to do something that you love to do.  How easy is that?  Jenny Marples is our hostess this time and this is her description of the challenge: "How often do you create something just for you that makes your heart sing? Doesn't it feel great when you do! My challenge to you is to make a vintage or shabby chic piece of art, be it a journal page, a tag, a card, a home decor project etc, that fills you with happiness and makes you smile - don't forget to tell us why you love it so much."

My Take on the Challenge

My approach to this challenge was really quite simple, I just chose all the things I love and it became this gorgeous easel card.  First of all I was making this card for a special friend, that alone gave me impetus to create something special.  Then I chose all my favorite things: red, black and ivory Graphic 45 papers, beautiful Little Birdie blooms, chipboard, embossing powders and some pretty trim.  Of course this card is something I love!

I chose Graphic 45's Love Notes collection that was released in January to make this easel card. I love the drama of these colors and I think the woman silhouette really sets this card off quite nicely!

I think easel cards are especially nice because they display so prettily standing up as they do. 

The Chipboard

All the chipboard except the silhouette is from Creative Embellishments. I heat embossed the frame with Seth Apter's by Emerald Creek Baked Texture - Dirty Sand embossing powder. I love the multicolored look and textured feel of it. The words and silhouette were heat embossed with Seth Apter's by Emerald Creek Baked Velvet - Eclipse. The chipboard piece beneath the thank you words was inked with Distress Oxide Antique Linen Ink.

The Flowers

I used a mix of flowers from Little Birdie Crafts and Graphic 45.  The largest red rose and the buds are Graphic 45 and part of their Staples line.  I'm so happy to see G45 carrying coordinating flowers for their paper lines!  The rest of the flowers are Little Birdie Crafts and they are sooooo gorgeous.  The white ones are sparkly though that doesn't show to well in the photo.  

The Easel Mechanism

Easel cards are really easy to make,  Here's a link to a tutorial for an easel card.   They can be any size, this one is 7" x 6 1/4".  I used a simple strip that is popped up with foam tape to serve as a stop to hold the easel upright. That leaves plenty of room inside to write a personal message but still looks really pretty with the front of the card.  Take a second look at the first photo and you can see how it holds the easel in place.

How to Enter the Challenge

Create a vintage or shabby chic project  and link it up to the Frilly and Funkie Challenge, I Love it Because. The Design Team will choose their top four picks, with the winner being invited to be a guest designer in one of our Frillie and Funkie challenges. The other three winners will receive Top 3 badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into a draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Be sure to take a look at the creations of my talented teammates, you can see their creations here, at the Frillie and Funkie Blog.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Graphic 45 - Love Notes Collection 12x12" Collection Pack 

Graphic 45 - Love Notes Collection 8x8" Paper Pad

Seth Apter Baked Texture Embossing Powder - Dirty Sand

Seth Apter Baked Velvet - 3 Piece Neutrals Kit

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Antique Linen

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Vintage Photo

 Graphic 45 Rose Bouquet Collection—Triumphant Red 

 Graphic 45 - Staples - Large Tag and Flowers Dies

Graphic 45 - Love Notes Collection 12x12" Patterns and Solids (out of stock)

Saturday Showcase at the Frillie and Funkie Challenge Blog

Join me at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog for a tutorial to make these 2 cards and tag from Stamperia Christmas papers.  The Funkie Junkie Boutique has lots of Stamperia paper collection in stock so stop by and see the goodness!

An Easel Card for the Frillie and Funkie Challenge Blog

The Challenge

Time for a new challenge at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog!  Suzanne is our host this time and her  challenge is to use marble, arches or columns on your project.  

Her words, "The current challenge is inspired by the month of August. In doing a little online research I learned that the month of August was re-named for Augustus Caesar. He was the first Roman Emperor and was very proud of the influence he had on the architecture of the country. For this challenge I am asking you to be inspired by marble, arches or columns. You will need to create a vintage or shabby chic project using some type of marble effect, arches or columns."

My Take on the Challenge
While pondering what to do for this challenge, I suddenly remembered a craze from a few years ago. Do you remember when arch shaped projects were popular?  I had tons of fun making arches as they are larger than ATC's and I find making ATC's to be a bit tedious, as there just isn't enough real estate for me to be creative.

I started out with a simple arch that is 5" wide and about 6 1/4" high that I cut from Graphic 45's beautiful Floral Shoppe collection.  Then I cut a larger arch to layer behind and used a corner punch to create the lacy look behind the arch.  (How to cut around a circle with a corner punch here.)  Then I dabbed embossing ink on the lacy edge and added Weather White embossing powder to break up the solid pink color.

On the front I added some pretty lace to give it a feminine touch to go along with the pretty Little Birdie flowers.  Next I added a set of arched chipboard doors.  I heat embossed the doors with Emerald Creek Charred Gold and Ancient Amber embossing powder.  (Stop by the Frilly and Funkie Blog August 4th, where I'll be doing a Saturday Showcase featuring ways to use embossing powders!)

The quote that is layered over the arched doors is cut from an ephemera card from the Floral Shoppe collection.

I topped my arch with this pretty silver filigree piece and then altered it with first Ancient Amber and then Weathered White embossing enamel.  You can also see the effect of the embossing enamel on the lacy cardstock layer in this closeup shot.

All that was left to do was add some flowers and ribbon to my arch and it's done.  Oh but wait...

The arch sure would be pretty on a card!  And so, the arch is now the front of an easel card.  I made a 6" square easel card base and simply glued the arch to the cardstock base.  (If you want to learn how to make the easel, here's a tutorial for making an easel card.)  Inside the card, I added a layer of design paper and a piece of chipboard that serves to hold the easel in place.  This makes such a pretty display!

Here's a template for making an arch if you want to give it a go,  they really are fun to make.  You can see some other arches I've created here and here.

How to Enter the Challenge

Now it's time for you to have some fun with this August challenge!!  Create a vintage or shabby chic project using marble, arches or columns and link it up to the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog.  If you win, you'll have an opportunity to be a Guest Designer here at Frilly and Funkie!  We also award Top 3 Badges for three further outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team, because we can’t pick just one favorite!

AND, everyone who enters and follows the rules for the challenge is entered into a draw to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Woo-hoo!

You have until 11:59PM EDT on Tuesday, August 14th to link your project.

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

(EARLY MARCH PRE-ORDER) Graphic 45 - Floral Shoppe - 12x12 Collection Pack	(EARLY MARCH PRE-ORDER) Graphic 45 - Floral Shoppe - Ephemera	(EARLY MARCH PRE-ORDER) Graphic 45 - Floral Shoppe - Chipboard	Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo	Venise Lace Trim - 2 inches	(MID-JANUARY PRE-ORDER) Seth Apter Baked Texture - Ancient Amber	Emeral Creek Alure Powders - Charred Gold
Ranger Embossing Powder - Weathered White Antiquities	Ranger ADHESIVE - WHITE FOAM ROLL 1/2" X 1/16"x 2.1 YDS.	Round Antique Silver Filigree - Set of 4