Gecko Galz: Blooming Beautiful

 

Hello!

Today is my DT day at Gecko Galz. 

This month the theme is Blooming Beauty and to enter you just need to use at least one Gecko Galz product. There are thousands to choose from, so head over to the Etsy store, grab a cuppa and have a perusal! You have until the 29th April to enter.

My first project is an ephemera folder using handmade tea stained papers from music manuscript and book pages, along with Gecko Galz digital papers and vintage photos.

 I used a beautiful image from the collage set Cutie Pies for the front of the folder.

Inside the folder, Country Charm ATC set papers acts as the backing paper. On the left side I added a glassine envelope full of Gecko Galz sentiments and added an image from the Colours of Spring collage set.  Tucked behind are lengths of lace and trim.

On the right I made an oval card topper using an image from the Ain't She Cute. collage set which was free in one of the October Blog Hops. Some vellum papers and gems were tucked into the envelope.

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My second project is a pair of notecards that just say 'Hello':

I used beautiful paper from the Linen Closet ATC pack  and kraft card. I distressed the edges of the card and image and inked them with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. I added some twine trim across each card and three small burlap flowers I stamped the word ;hello' onto craft card using a Lawn Fawn stamp and black ink.

The images I used are from the Spring Charms Collage Set. 

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My final work was very simple, but I think it is quite elegant and eye-catching:

I used paper from C'est La Vie ATC set and an image from Ain't She Cute collage set (free in one of the Gecko Galz October Blog Hops). I simply fussy cut the image, inked around the edges with Vintage Photo and adhered to the paper. I haven't made this into a project yet, I'm deciding on whether to have it as a journal cover or as a greeting card.

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I'll show my projects for the Customer Inspiration post before I sign off. If you want more photos and details you can find them HERE.

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That's all for now!
I hope you'll join our Blooming Beauty challenge where the winner will get a $25 shopping spree at the Gecko Galz shop.

The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product 
(this can be one of the freebies or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy store!) 
Also if you sign up for the Gecko Galz newsletter, you'll be able to claim a free collage sheet each month and get first claim on the monthly $1 deals!

Please pop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see the fabulous designs by the very talented DT.

We also have a friendly Facebook Group where there are 4 monthly challenges, each with a collage sheet prize. 
Do come and join us!

I'll be back on the 1st May with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Blooming Beauty"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

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Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in the following challenges:

Ephemera Folder

TGI Friday Challenges Very Vintage 23/04

Love to Craft #57 AG 30/04

Mix It Up #48 No Stamping 30/04

Notecards

Crafty Friends #151 Girls 29/04

A Bit More Time to Craft AG 30/04

Get Creative #100 AG 30/04

Love to Scrap #144 Spring Forward 30/04

The Crafting Challenge April AG 30/04

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

Path of Positivity: Wakey Wakey

Hello!

Today is the midway point of the April Path of Positivity challenge.

The challenge lasts for the whole month of April.

This month the theme is Anything Goes with the optional twist of 

Make me Smile/Laugh.

Prizes this month include:

• TWO digital images from Hetty Clare our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants. 
• ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Our optional theme this month is Share A Smile/Laugh.

So, this month we want you to create a project that makes you smile or laugh.

What brings a smile to your face or makes you laugh? How do you share that smile with someone else? What we show on the outside can become how we feel on the inside. So, if you've been feeling low, how about putting a smile on your face to help you put a smile on your heart as well! Anything with a fun or funny theme is perfect for our challenge this month.

Please remember ...

... in order to be eligible for the prizes your project must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some way. 

I love cats - big ones, small ones, old ones, baby ones - any colour - I love them all! Currently only one cat is living with us, but we did have three at one point. Cats have attitude - we all know that, but most cats have their own character and finding that character is so much fun and brings about lots of laughter and just a little exasperation.

Anyhow, on to my project for the midway of this month's challenge.

Here is my card using another of Hetty Clare's beautiful, whimsical images. This one is called Wakey Wakey and is a really true picture of mornings with cats (apart from the dish in bed!). My cats' stomachs have always woken them up and they make no secret of the fact that they are up and hungry, so you should be serving them breakfast.

I decided to cut my digi into a circle since that was the most obvious and then I decided upon a shaped card using nesting dies. I coloured the image with Copic markers and made the background cards by heat embossing stamp set #485 Reverse Stars from AALL & Create in white and blending Distress Oxide Inks over the top. 

I found the sentiment sticker in a set called Back Chat by Dyan Reaveley for Ranger.

Many thanks to Hetty Clare, this month's guest sponsor.

Please pop over to Helen's shop to see the wonderful Hetty Claire digi designs she has to offer. You won't be disappointed!

and to Scribbles Designs as the ongoing sponsor of the challenge


We would love to see your creations! 
Just make sure that your entry is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some way!
The link up is here: Challenge #90 Path of Positivity.

 

That's all for today! 

I'll be back with a another Path of Positivity project in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo

                                                                                                                                            

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies April AG 25/04
Crafty Animals #49 27/04
A Bit More Time to Craft AG 30/04
QKR Stampede #418 AG 30/04
Unicorn Challenge #64 Include an Animal 30/04

Creative Craft Cottage #139 Include an Animal 01/05
SUYP Challenge #65 03/05
Sweet Stampers Challenge Lots of Layers 08/05

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Vera Lane Studio: Create

 

Hello!

As it is Monday, it's my DT day at Vera Lane Studio. 

We have a new digi set release today called Create which features a male creative, along with his art supplies and storage box.

Here is what I made:

All of the images were coloured with Copic markers and fussy cut. 

The background was heat embossed in white using the AALL & Create stamp # 351 Alphabet Splatter. I inked over with Distress Oxides in Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio and Evergreen Bough. Some splodges were stamped in black using #362 Splodge. I added white paint splatters and used torn washi tape #5, Artsy, to ground my crafty boy and also some #6 Crafty washi.

Create

That's all for now.

I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane. It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

  

Here's all the info you need:

Vera Lane Studio Blog

***Vera Lane Studio Facebook Group***

Vera Lane Studio You Tube Channel

Vera Lane Studio Etsy Shop

AALL & Create carry Janet's clear stamp sets, stencils and Washi Tape. 

A list of stockists can be found here.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Crafting Happiness Challenges #93 AG 25/04

Pammies Inky Pinkies Challenges #2116 AG 26/04

Classic Design Challenge #5 AG 27/04

A Perfect Time To Craft AG 28/04

Creative Crafters #39 AG 08/05

World Wide Open Design Team Challenge AG 12/05 

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers GDT: Distracted and Unsympathetic - Monochrome

 

Hello!

I would firstly like to welcome 

Janet Santolini, 

Christopher Lopez 

Mary Jordon and

Nancy Iverson

Thank you so much for becoming followers of my little blog!

***

I am delighted to be a guest designer at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers. 

I recently had the honour of being crowned Queen of Snark - this is such a huge privilege!

The new challenge starts today and the theme is M is for Monochromatic. 

Here is the card I made:

I love this quirky woman. She is from a PaperArtsy stamp designed by Lynn Perrella 

#LPC 049. 

I stamped her with Twilight Versafine Claire, masked her and inked the background using a stencil and stamps from AALL & Create (stencil #113, stamps #294, #375 and #385). I used  various Distress Oxides in shades of blue and embossed with Distress Glaze in Speckled Egg.

The sentiment is a snarky, Big Talk sticker from the Tim Holtz collection.

Here she is in close up. Despite her snarky sentiment, I think this quirky lady is very elegant and quite how she came to have birdies in her hands and on her head is pure serendipity.

Thank you to the Sisters for inviting me to be a guest on their blog. If you have time, please consider joining the M is for Monochromatic Challenge, or just pop over to see the amazing samples of work made by the DT and the challenge entrants.

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers

M is for Monochromatic Challenge

That's all for now.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Penny's Challenges #494 AG 27/04

A Perfect Time To Craft AG 28/04

Daisy Chain Challenge #51 Monochrome

A Place to Start #4 AG/Elegant 30/04

Taylormadecards4u April Serendipity 30/04

World Wide Open Design Team Challenge AG 12/05

Creative Crafters #39 AG 08/05

Gecko Galz: Goddess ATC Swap

  

Hello!

This month is swap month at the Gecko Galz. Paper Crafting Facebook Group.

Kim organises a swap every 2 months and a challenge even other month using selected Gecko Galz images and ATC papers which can be downloaded free from her blog. 

The theme for April is Goddess ATCs and here is what I made:

I opted to use gold embellishments to decorate my goddesses, choosing Tim Holtz 3D Impresslits and a TH crochet border die. I threw some golden leaves in for good measure. I love working in miniature form and really enjoyed making these.

Below is a close up of each ATC:

This one uses the 3D Star border Impresslit and the smaller star Impresslit.

For this one, I used the small Star border Impresslit, a mini Cut & Make doily die with a small section of Crochet Border. I used up some ancient gold sticker borders too!

The third ATC has a small Star border and a large Star Impresslit with some leaves cut from a 'Rose Leaf Strip' Britannia die.

That's all for today.

You still have time to join the Gecko Galz customer challenge. The theme for April is Blooming Beauty and the winner will get a $25 shopping spree at the Gecko Galz shop.

The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product 
(this can be one of the freebies or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy store!) 
Also if you sign up for the Gecko Galz newsletter, you'll be able to claim a free collage sheet each month and get first claim on the monthly $1 deals!

Please pop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see the fabulous designs by the very talented DT.

We also have a friendly Facebook Group where there are 4 monthly challenges, each with a collage sheet prize. 
Do come and join us!

I'll be back on the 20th April with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Blooming Beauty"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in the following challenges:

Pammies Inky Pinkies Challenges #2115 AG 18/04

As You Like It Embossing or Stencilling 21/04

This time I'm opting for dry embossing using 3D folders to add textured embellishments to my ATCs

Penny's Challenges #494 AG 27/04

A Perfect Time To Craft AG 28/04

A Place to Start #4 AG/Elegant 30/04

World Wide Open Design Team Challenge AG 12/05

Creative Crafters #39 AG 08/05

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

Vera Lane Studio: Bloom ATCs

 Hello!

Happy Monday!

Please let me welcome Fiona Whitehead, my new follower.  I am always delighted when someone takes time to look at my blog posts :) 

Today we have fewer Covid restrictions in the England - that is something to be happy about. 

  Non-essential retail and services are opening - hurrah for the hairdressers and gyms! We also have outdoor hospitality opening and now two people can visit family or friends in care. Overnight stays away from home are allowed in England, as long as you keep in your bubbles, but international travel is still not allowed. So, there's plenty to smile about today! Let's hope people act with caution and we don't end up back in lockdown.

***

As it is Monday, it is my DT day for Vera Lane Studio.

I have a trio of ATCs to share. This month we are having an ATC swap and the theme is 'Bloom'. Here is what I made:

I chose two older digi sets called Wildflower and Daffodil, as well as last week's new digi set release, Jardin.

I made my backgrounds by stamping green Distress Oxide inks with Reverse Diamonds. I added some Scripted Diamonds along the edges and some #4 Encrypt washi Tape. I used #6 Crafty washi tape to ground my girls and added some florist moss for some texture. (Stamps and washi tapes are from AALL & Create)

Here are the ATCs in close up:

Firstly, this is Jardin. She is teamed with flowers from the 'Thoughts of You' digi set (available on request).

Next is Wildflower - I love this quirky flower girl. I teamed her with flowers from 'Sunny'.

And lastly, this is Daffodil. She comes with a meadow full of daffodils which I used in the background.

All of the sweet sentiments are from the Back to Back Collage set (available on request).

Wildflower                           Jardin                             Daffodil

  

That's all for now.

I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane. It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

  

Here's all the info you need:

Vera Lane Studio Blog

***Vera Lane Studio Facebook Group***

Vera Lane Studio You Tube Channel

Vera Lane Studio Etsy Shop

AALL & Create carry Janet's clear stamp sets, stencils and Washi Tape. 

A list of stockists can be found here.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Dream Valley #245 Springtime 17/04

Get Creative Challenges #100 AG 30/04 

Dare 2b Artzy April Bright Colours 30/04 

Crafters Castle #40 Spring/Summer 30/04 

The Crafting Challenge April AG 30/04

AALL & CREATE: Hibiscus

 Hello

It is my GDT day at AALL & Create today and I have card to share featuring the beautiful Hibiscus stamp set designed by Tracy Evans.

Hibiscus flowers remind me of tropical islands, summer holidays and balmy evenings, and one holiday destination in particular where the ladies dance with hisbiscus flowers behind their ears. The blue background is representative of the evening sky and the Heart Grunge background shows my love of this destination.

Glossy Accents was used on some the background hearts and there is one heart stamped in black on white card tucked behind the top flower. I also added some texture paste hearts.

The black row of numbers from Through the Meadow were stamped three times and added to the card. Yellow and white Posca pen dots make the hibiscus stamen.

Here is how it came together:

1. White emboss the large stamp from #453 Heart Grunge. Extend the bottom the stamp by adding a section of the text and butterfly stamp from #458 Hibiscus. Stamp out 3 hibiscus flowers on watercolour paper.

2. Add colour to the background using Distress Oxides and water and the smooshing and dipping technique. Add stamping in white ink and Blueprint Sketch using the #470 Scripted Diamonds stamp and #484 Reverse Diamonds. Use Versafine Nocturn to add diamond stamping to the edges of the card. Ink around the edges with black ink.

3. Colour the flowers. I used brush pens and a water brush, then deepened the colour with Inktense watercolour pencils, adding Posca pen dots for the stamen.

4. Add the stamped heart and butterfly directly over the stamped images. Stencil texture paste hearts from the #114 Art stencil. Add glossy accents to the hearts. Assemble the flowers using foam tape for dimension.  Stamp the Hibiscus sentiment, heat emboss and pop on foam pads.

.

Stamps used:

#453 Through the Meadow

#458 Heart Grunge

#470 Scripted Diamonds

#484 Reverse Diamonds

Stencil: #114 Art

To see the stamps, stencils, dies and washi tapes used, please visit

AALL & Create Boutique. 

A list of stockists can be found here.

You'll find lots of inspiration on the 

AALL & Create Facebook Page, the AALL & Create Fanatics Facebook Page and on Instagram

That's all for now.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Incy Wincy Designs Bright Colours 18/04

Handstamped Sentiments #361 19/04

Creative Moments #212 AG 20/04

Get Creative Challenges #100 AG 30/04

Dare 2b Artzy April Bright Colours 30/04

Crafters Castle #40 Spring/Summer 30/04

Crafty Creations #420 AG 03/05

More Mixed Media April AG 03/05