Gecko Galz: Ocean Beauty

   

Hello

This July our customer challenge over at the Gecko Galz blog has the theme Sea of Dreams..

As always, we also have the monthly card challeng.e, the monthly Christmas Image Challenge, the monthly Stamp Challenge, an ATC challenge, a Steampunk challenge and a Gothic Challenge on the blog, as well as 4 Facebook challenges. These can be accessed by the tabs at the top of the main blog page. We also have the new quarterly challenge.

We hope you can find some time to join in the fun.

The winner of the Customer challenge will get a $25 Gecko Galz Etsy Store voucher and the runner up a $12 voucher. There are plenty of free Gecko Galz images if you don't already own any. Each blog post has a free image to collect and, if you sign up for the monthly newsletter, there is the chance to claim a free collage set each month.  Also if you make any purchase of $2 or more you receive a free image.

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Here is what I made for my DT day:

This fantasy sea scene uses an image from Underwater Angels (one of last month's weekly 'free with purchase' gifts) and paper from the Bubbles ATC set.

I used gold and black for matting and layering and added a small lace flower  and some oxide-coloured, seaweed dies as embellishment.

Isn't the sea dragon beautiful! 

Challenges Entered:

*Double D Challenge Nautical 14/07

* PIP Challenges #2427 AG 14/07

* Fab n Funky #599 Seaside 16/07

A Perfect Time to Craft. July AG 28/07

* A Place to Start July AG 31/07

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This card also features a mermaid from Underwater Angels and paper from the Bubbles ATC set

Challenges Entered:

* Art Impressions #382 Magical Creatures 17/07

* Creative Inspiration 16 AG 25/07

Farm Quest Fantasy Challenge #7 Mermaid 31/07 WINNER

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I also created a mini shaker book:

More photos of the booklet and a step by step tutorial can be seen in this post.

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And lastly some digital collages:

This features images from the Fish Camp collage set and an enlarged  Bubbles ATC background.

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This one feature's last month's Fantasy Challenge free image from the Gecko Galz blog and an enlarged Bubbles ATC background. 

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That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our Sea of Dreams 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.

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 bespoke digital prize. 

Do come and join us!

***

That's all for now.

I'll be back in August with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Sea of Dreams"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

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Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

How to Create a Digital Collage + Video

 

Hello

I have been asked how I make digital collages.

I'm relatively new to it, so I'm no expert, but here I'll try to explain what I do.

I have a demo video where I make this digital scrapbook page:

 You can view it here: https://youtu.be/IYT5km7vJ2Q

Here's what you will need: 

1. Image editing software. Any program which allows you to place digital images in layers and switch the position of the layers.  

• I use PicMonkey, but there are lots to choose from; 
• Photoshop, PaintShop Pro, Gimp (a free online download), Canva (I believe there is a free version) and My Memories Suite (free trial then purchase) are a few. 

2.. Some form of digital backgrounds (digital papers/digital images/patterns etc) and digital images.

3. Transparent background images and elements. These are usually png files. 

  *  Transparent background images: these allow your character or focal element to sit directly on the background. Adding drop shadows with your editing software makes it look more realistic.

  *  Transparent background elements: these are what we would call embellishments in traditional paper crafting, such as ribbons, bows, flowers, gems, stitching, frames, stickers etc.

• These can be purchased from Scrapbook Stores. Stores often give away freebie sample kits. I like DigitalScrapbook.com where you can download 5 free items each day as well as purchase sets. I also like Raspberry Road Designs where each new release has a freebie sampler and these are available for all time.  Some other stores are Oscraps, Studio Digital Scrapbooking, The LilyPad, Pickleberrypop. 

• There are many Etsy stores selling reasonably priced png digital files - read the descriptions to make sure what type of graphics file they are offering. Some of my favourite Etsy stores for png digital scrapbooking are: Artemis Journals, ChezSimone Tresors, Miles Beyond the Moon, Art House Whimsy. Other store selling printables may have some clip art available in png files.

• Removing backgrounds can also be achieved digitally - your layering program can sometimes do this, but if not, there are plenty of online background remover programs and some are free. 

4. You can of course use jpg images from collage sets as your focal point and your digital project will look more like a scrapbook layout page.. 

• Some of my favourite Etsy stores for jpg images are Gecko Galz, Conjuror of Dreams, Sharm Studio, My Porch Prints, Calico Collage and WendyLynn Paper Whims.
• When I use jpg images I add transparent background png elements/embellishments around the image for interest.
• I alter the backgrounds using colour changer, fade and blend, and use special effects such as clone tools I add transparent masks for added interest or textural elements.

5. Brushes (stamps), masks and painted edges (borders): These are useful for adding texture, detail and finishing touches. 

6. Words. I like to have sentiments and words on my pages. Your image editing software should be able to allow you to type with various fonts, but Alphas (alphabets), sentiments and word art can be purchased or sourced freely - just be aware of copyright laws. 

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It's not easy to describe my process. 

I recorded my screen as I created a simple project 

You can see my process in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYT5km7vJ2Q

I would encourage you to have a play. Go visit some of the digital scrapbook shops - many have galleries, blogs and tutorials where you'll pick up lots of tips.

If you have other tips that I've missed, please leave them in the comments below.

Have fun!

Carole x

Conjurer of Dreams: Winged Beauties

 Hello

Today I'm sharing some projects I made using Conjurer of Dreams images. I hope you'll pop over to the store and take a look at the Digital Art on sale for collage, scrapbooks, journals, cards and more.

The theme this month in the Facebook Group is Winged Beauty?.

Here is what I made:

This card features a humming bird from the Winged Beauty 2 set.

A white die cut card is placed on top of a Distress Oxide coloured piece of card which was also splattered with white paint. Some die cut leaves and flowers were made in complementary colours and the humming bird was fussy cut and popped on foam tape for dimension. Glitter was added to the bird image and the flowers.

xoxo

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #232 AG 06/07

* The Sisterhood of Crafters #26 In the Garden 07/07

Critter Crazy #88 25/07

Triple B Challenges (birds/blossoms/butterflies) July 31./07

Paper Funday Challenges #67 AG option Critter 04/08

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These Flapper Girls with Wings are gorgeous in lovely sepia tones.

I selected some fancy dies, and some neutral papers and card to make a couple of cards.

This one uses Tim Holtz paper in the background matted upon gold card. The die cuts the image and the frame, so I had to make sure I printed the image at the right size.. I distressed the edges of the design paper with scissors and added a velvet ribbon and a knot bow to finish it off.

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I used a Sizzix die to cut some pearly cream card and matted it onto bronze coloured paper. The image was cut and the edges distressed and matted first upon bronze paper, then on the pearly card. A lace flower was popped in the bottom corner as a simple embellishment.

Pammies Inky Pinkies Challenges #2426 07/07 HONOURABLE MENTION

A Perfect Time to Craft. July AG 28/07

A Place to Start July AG 31/07

Creative Inspirations July AG 31/07

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These next cards feature the beautiful, watercolour Birds on a Branch.

I used a scalloped stitched die to cut the image and cut a larger frame from card coloured with Oxide inks splattered with water. I used a Lavinia stencil to add ink to opposite corners of the background, using two shades of each colour to add a little depth. I added some ink oxide splatters and inked around the edges of the background.

Crafty Animals #85 26/07

Stencil Fun Challenges July Stencil/Blues 31/07

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My last card features the butterfly from the Winged Beauty set.

I used simple matting and layering with the help of some dies, white card and navy blue card to create this one.

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And finally, some digital collages:

Flying SteamPunk Mice in a Magical Forest:

And Forest Fairies:

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That's all for now.

Here are the sets that I used and links to the shop:

Flapper Girls with Wings

Winged Beauty 2

Birds on a Branch

Flying SteamPunk Mouse

Forest Fairies

Please visit the

Conjurer of Dreams Etsy Store

Conjurer of Dreams Inspiration Group on Facebook (freebies available)

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

* Gecko Galz: Sea of Dreams Shaker Book

  Hello

It's July and we have a new customer challenge over at the Gecko Galz blog.  

The theme this month is Sea of Dreams..

As always, we also have the monthly card challeng.e, the monthly Christmas Image Challenge, the monthly Stamp Challenge, an ATC challenge, a Steampunk challenge and a Gothic Challenge on the blog, as well as 4 Facebook challenges. These can be accessed by the tabs at the top of the main blog page. We also have the new quarterly challenge.

We hope you can find some time to join in the fun.

The winner of the Customer challenge will get a $25 Gecko Galz Etsy Store voucher and the runner up a $12 voucher. There are plenty of free Gecko Galz images if you don't already own any. Each blog post has a free image to collect and, if you sign up for the monthly newsletter, there is the chance to claim a free collage set each month.  Also if you make any purchase of $2 or more you receive a free image.

***

Here is what I made as inspiration for the Customer Challenge. 

It's a shaker booklet (the instructions are at the bottom of this post)

and my inspiration came from a project made by the lovely 

Chrissy from Chrissy Card Land:

I used images from the Fish Camp collage set. I removed the background from some images and digitally combined them before printing out.

Here is the front of the book:

I added oxide coloured, die cut seaweed and some tiny mulberry flowers for decoration.

The first pages:

Second pages:

Third pages:

Step by step process:

1. Cut 4 pieces of card (mine is 10 inches by 5 inches), 

finger paint with acrylics, 

splatter with silver and white paint

fold in half to make a 5 x 5 inch folder

have the folded edge on the right, die cut a circle from the front of each folder

2. Print your images (making sure they are the right size to fit the aperture)

place in a cellophane bag

add sequins 

seal bag

3. Add tape or glue to the back of the cellophane bagged image

adhere to the inside of the folder (make sure the opening is on the left side)

4. Die cut circular borders using 2 dies held together with washi tape

heat emboss with silver glitter powder (or paint)

5. Attach the borders to the front aperture

6. Make the binding accordion from a 5 inch x 3 inch piece of painted card

make 6 scores along the 3 inch edge,  half an inch apart

fold into an accordion and make sharp creases

7. The first piece of the accordion is attached to the inside of your first folder to make the front of the book

(I used glue and bulldog clips, for the first page, but changed to red tape and glue as it is sturdier)

8. Attach the other 3 pages to the binding accordion

clamp the binding together until glue is dry

***

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our Sea of Dreams 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.

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 bespoke digital prize. 

Do come and join us!

I'll be back on the 10th July with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Sea of Dreams"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #232 AG 06/07

* Pammies Inky Pinkies Challenges #2426 07/07

* Critter Crazy #88 25/07

*A Perfect Time to Craft. July AG 28/07 DT Favourite

* A Place to Start July AG 31/07

Mini Album Mania #6 15/08

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

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