Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial for Back to Nature Challenge at Frilly & Funkie

Hello, Friends!  Welcome to the latest challenge at the Frilly & Funkie Blog, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.   I’ve created a mixed media Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial for this “Back to Nature” challenge.  Our lovely hostess is the amazing Sara Emily, who I call the Queen of Techniques.  This is what she has to say about the challenge:

Having just returned from our annual trek to the mountains of West Virginia where we observed so much natural beauty on our hikes, I couldn’t help but make my challenge nature themed. You can make anything you like, from a card or tag to altered art, just be sure to include a natural element in your vintage or shabby chic project. Think real twigs, leaves, shells, pebbles. Or you could include a die cut or a stamped or stenciled  image representing a natural object.

My mind went immediately to summer….and blue skies…and dragonflies.  And that was how this lovely little Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial came into being.

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: The Base-ics

I designed a brand new style of folio for this challenge, which is always a good way to start any project in my world!  This is a 7 1/4″ x 5 3/4″ side opening folio with a 1/2″ nested spine.  The album has a fun staggered edge pocket and tag interior with my usual flaps and pockets.  I think you will enjoy creating this base following the simple tutorial in the YouTube Video below.

TIP: Reinforce the folio spine by wrapping it with burlap.  This not only looks awesome, it protects those delicate creases in the spine,

TIP: Punch holes in the spine and thread custom dyed seam binding ribbon through them. Alter the keys and dragonfly charm with Seth Apter’s incredible Patina Oxide Baked Texture.  I am completely smitten with these Baked Textures!  Look how old they made these keys look.  And it took mere seconds to accomplish.  Ya gotta love that!

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial Close Ups and Tips

TIP: Use an embossing pen to add Versamark Ink to the wings of the dragonfly.  Then heat emboss with Seth Apter’s Baked Texture.  Even my husband was amazed at how cool the wings look!

TIP:  Distress Opaque Crackle Texture Paste adds subtle texture and design to this image.  Mix a few drops of Old Paper Reinker in with a quarter sized blob of paste.  Mix with a palette knife.  Spread through the flourish stencil from Tim’s Mini Layering Stencils Set #10.  It’s just so pretty!

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: A Peek Inside

Stamperia Wonderland paper is filled with dragonflies and botanical images like these.  That’s why I chose it for this project.

TIP: Create a fancy edged pocket by fussy cutting a floral cluster from the corner.  Score a 1/4″ line along the left and the bottom edges.  Fold, angle the corners, and fold to create a unique pocket.

This photo shows you the neat staggered edge/pocket and tag layout of the folio.  I have to confess, I am really tickled with the way this turned out.

TIP:  Cover tags in a flash! Use a Graphic 45 Regular Kraft Tag Album in combo with the G45 Regular Tag and Gears Die.  You can cut up to 4 layers of designer paper at a time with this die.

Stamp covered tags with the Dragonfly image from Stamper’s Anonymous Classics 1. I used Butterscotch Archival Ink (retired).  Heat embossed with Seth’s Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture.  For this project, I decided handwritten quotes would be cool.  Tear the paper edges, then adhere the quotes with Vintage Collage Distress Medium.  I talk more about this in the video.

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: The Video

Enjoy this album tour, see all the products I used to create it, and learn some neat tips and tricks as you view.

Back to Nature: Now it’s YOUR Turn!

Play along in this Back to Nature Challenge, by creating your own vintage or shabby chic project following Sara’s guidelines.   Then link your project up at the Frilly and Funkie Blog before 11:55PM EDT on Tuesday, August 28th. 

The Frilly and Funkie team will pick our favorite project to be a Guest Designer on the blog.  Our top 3 picks will also receive badges to display proudly on their blog.  And, everyone who plays along and follows the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 shopping spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Product Links

Please note, the flowers used on this project are from Little Birdie Crafts: Wendy Arctic Ice, Martina Arctic Ice, Bernice Ocean Mist, Rosemund Arctic Ice