* 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.

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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

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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!

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

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Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

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