Thursday 1 August 2019

* Gecko Galz: Shabby Chic Seaside


Hello!

It's August already!

A new month brings a new challenge at the Gecko Galz blog and this month the theme is one of my favourites: Shabby Chic Seaside. I love making seaside projects and shabby chic is one of my favourite styles with vintage images.

I made two projects - a card and an altered tin:



What is Shabby Chic?

For anyone wondering what shabby chic is, it is something that is pleasingly old, slightly worn or distressed - I suppose aged, cracked, torn and showing signs of wear and tear. 
So, in order to create this style I've compiled a list of distress techniques a crafter could use:
1. Use light, pastel coloured paper - maybe spritz with pastel sprays to add a little extra colour, add glimmer mist if you want a little sparkle. Layer up different co-ordinating papers using foam pads.
2. Tear the paper edges, roll the edges, distress them by running a craft knife or scissors along the edge, tear and roll back pieces, crumple and fold the paper.
3. Add some ink to the edges to make it look aged (vintage photo, frayed burlap, antique linen)
4. Dry brush gesso or watered down white acrylic paint over the paper.
5. If you crumple the paper, try lightly sanding the creases back to revel the white core of the paper.
6. Add book paper to your project using the techniques above.
7. Add white splatters with watered down gesso or white acrylic paint.
8. In terms of embellishments add items such as cheesecloth behind the focal image, natural fibres, natural hemp string/twine, lace, flowers (paper, fabric, dried), doilies, stick pins, pearls, charms, butterflies, painted or glittered chipboard shapes. All should be in soft, pastel colours or neutrals. 

I hope that helps.

***
Here is the card I made:


 I used a beautiful pelican and lighthouse image from the Summer Seas collage set. I love the soft green-blue colours and the natural shades. I teamed it up with papers from Winter Wonderland, Country Charm and Timeless paper packs, although much of the paper ended up covered over. The sentiment is from The Journal Toppers Kit.
I tore the papers by hand and distressed  the edges - I chose not to ink mine, but left the white core of the paper as it was. I layered the different papers, dry brushed some gesso on the blue-green paper and added the image on foam pads placing some natural fibres under the image and curling two of the image's corners. The sentiment was placed on foam pads along the bottom edge of the card.


I added some ribbon trim to the side of the image and some Little Birdie paper flowers at the base. I tucked some twine, made into bows, behind the flowers along with some dried flowers. At this point, I covered the image and splattered some watered down white acrylic paint over the card. 
I found a piece of Scrapinec chipboard in my stash and attached it behind the top of the image. I added a small shell tucked between the flowers and finally I added some Nuvo crystal drops to the papers.
I love how this card turned out!


My second project was an altered tin which could be used for storage, as a pen/pencil holder or, as I chose, as a vase:



I recycled a coffee tin for this project.



 I began by cutting paper to fit over the surface of the tin - I distressed the top and bottom edges. I used blue striped paper from the Gecko Galz Country Charm paper pack to add a belly band, again distressing the top and bottom edges. Lace was adhered to the top and bottom edges of the tin and then the band was decorated. I used two images from the Summer Seas collage sheet - distressing, tearing and curling the edges. The 'To the Beach' image was lightly faded and aged by adding gesso with a dry paint brush. I placed the images on top of a corrugated card tag which had also been dry brushed with gesso. Under the images and tags, I tucked dry flowers and a seahorse charm. In-between the images I added some fabric flowers with frayed edges and a pearl centre. To finish I added some Nuvo Crystal Clear drops.



Gecko Galz products used:

Summer Seas                                       Journal Toppers
 

Country Charm                          Timeless                           Winter Wonderland
   

I hope you'll join our Shabby Chic Seaside 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 weekly $1 deals!

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

We also have a Private Facebook Group where there are 4 monthly challenges, each with a collage sheet prize
Come and join us!


I'll be back on the 22nd with more Gecko Galz projects.


Here's all the info you need:

***
Thanks for stopping by today.
xoxo


I'd like to play along in the following challenges: 
Card
Crafty Gals Corner #197 3 Layers 13/08
World Wide Open Design Team AG 12/08
A Bit More Time to Craft #97 AG 14/08
Creatalicious Challenges #168 Distress It 14/08
Love 2 Create #8 AG 20/08
Crafting with an Attitude #54 AG 25/08
Crafting by Designs AG 31/08

Altered Tin
Pearly Sparkles #43 Something beginning with B 27/08
Bow, Beach, Blue
613 Avenue Create Decorate a container 31/08 WINNER

Both
Your Scrapbook Place AG 30/08
Love to Craft #37 AG 31/08
The Happy Craft Challenge Aug Vintage 31/08

I'd really love some feedback :)      
I read and appreciate all your comments. 

18 comments:

  1. Hi Carole your makes are stunning I love them both they are so pretty. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  2. Carole, first of all, I love your makes, as always. But also - wow, what are those flowers in your vase? They are gorgeous as well. Finally, that is one of the best tutorials on shabby chic that I have evwer read. Bravo and thanks! xoxo

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  3. So beautiful. Thanks for joining us this month at WeLove2Create. Hugs from Irmelin

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  4. Gorgeous creations, love the designs! Thank you for sharing with us over at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.
    ~ Sherry DT/Admin xx

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  5. Your two projects are lovely! Thank you for the tips on the shabby chic technique. They are great pointers.
    Hugs Monica

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  6. Carole, just love your shabby chic card that pelican certainly reminds me of summer. Thanks for joining in on the Anything goes Challenge at the Happy Craft Challenge Community

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  7. I am in awe of your skills, through the roof! Thank you for sharing with us over here today at the Classic Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Jackie DT

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  8. Your shabby chic card and tin are gorgeous! Thank you so much for entering our challenge at Crafty Gals Corner Challenges this week. Be sure to join us next time too!
    Blessings,
    CGC DT
    Scrapbookingmamaw {My Blog}
    Crafty Gals Corner Challenges

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  9. Two fabulous projects shabby chic at it's best and great tips list too.Love the images-distressed layers and embellishments---brilliant
    Carol x

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  10. Back again and still love this project! So glad you have shared this with us at 613 Avenue Create. Please come back again! The best of luck with your entry. Jackie, DT member at 613 xx

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  11. Wow, all the projects you made this post are all gorgeous. Love the rustic, distress look. Thank you for participating our monthly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create. Have a blessed day!

    JO ANN
    https://jatterburycreations.blogspot.com

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  12. Fabulous Shabby Chid creations!
    Thanks for sharing with us at 613 Avenue Create….. Good Luck!
    DT Shell
    http://avenue613.blogspot.com

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  13. Fabulously sweet card, and project.....Love it!
    Thanks for sharing your creation with us at Your Scrapbook Place Challenge....Good Luck, and hope to see your creations again soon!

    DT Shell
    http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.com/

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  14. Absolutely stunning. Love all the detail on both of your projects.
    Great tips too x

    hugs sally x
    sallysbitz2.blogspot.co.uk

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  15. Thanks for sharing your fantastic project with us in the Love To Craft Challenge Blog's August "Anything Goes" challenge and we hope to see you again next month!
    Hugs,
    Leslie, LTCCB DT
    Love To Scrap 2

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  16. A perfectly designed card. Great coloring!
    Thank you for joining our gallery at Crafting With An Attitude.
    Bożena DT CWAA

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  17. Both your card and your altered tin are just stunning. The papers are amazing and you've truly captured the shabby chic style. Thanks for sharing at Pearly Sparkles.

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  18. Fabulous ensemble! Both components are beautifully crafted! Thanks so much for playing along wth us this at 613 Avenue Create!
    Hugz,
    Chana Malkah, Owner/Designer

    ReplyDelete

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