Gecko Galz: Magical Christmas

   Hello

It's November and it's my DT feature day over at the Gecko Galz blog.  

The theme this month is Christmas Magic.

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 are my DT makes:

A candle holder:

I recycled a tin for this project. The aluminium tin was covered with printed TH tissue paper. I added a strip of hessian trim around the can and applied red velvet trim on top of that. I found some glitter ball trim in my stash and decided to use this around the rim of the tin.

I chose to use the quirky angel child from the Christmas Dreamland collage set. I fussy cut her and added some wooden wings which were embossed with iridescent powder. Some dried flowers were tucked behind the angel. I decorated a little log slice with tiny pine cones, berries and the word 'joy' and adhered this to the bottom of the angel's dress.

The tin was popped onto a circular mirror base along with some pine cones.

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A light-up. decor piece:

Here I have another recycled container - this time it's a circular cheese triangle box.

The back of the box had an embossed tree scene coloured with distress mica sprays. A string of tiny lights were placed between the box and the embossed backing and some holes punched so the light could shine through. The lights were also wound around the outside edge of the box. The outside was then coated with texture paste.

I added twigs, alder cones and dried cotoneaster from my garden.

I cut an Easter nest in half, added some artificial moss and nestled the lovely fairy from the Christmas Dreamland collage set, inside. I added glitter to the fairy and dry brushed white paint onto the twigs and cones to give a frosty feel.

Some bells and a twine bow were placed at the top of the piece. The sleeping fox was placed on some sisal along with more frosty alder cones and twigs and adhered to the side.

Here it is with the lights on:

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Christmas Cards:

I made a pair of cards using up the images that I had printed from Christmas Dreamland.

I used paper from my stash for the background and heat embossed the edges in gold. 

I added three images ticked into the Peace on Earth sentiment - all edged with gold embossing.

I made a green card with pink trimmings and a pink card with green trimmings:

A poinsettia was made from coloured card and I inked the edges. Gold foliage was also added along with a dark green velvet ribbon.

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And a Christmas Banner

You can see more info about this HERE

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That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our 'Christmas Magic' 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 1st December with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Christmas Magic"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

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I'd like to enter these Challenges:

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

Path of Positivity: Bunny Family

 Hello

Today is the start of a new challenge at the Path of Positivity.

Our challenge is always Anything Goes with an optional theme. We have decided that our overall theme for 2024 will be THE POWER OF WORDS.

November's option is to design a project that is inspired by quotes about 

Family and Friends

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Here is my project:

I have no words or sentiment as I wish to use this card as a Christmas card, but it has a small family of Lavinia hares.  This quote by Gerald R. Ford fits my scene “The length of one's days matters less than the love of one's family and friends.”  

I started by inking the sky, using a circle mask for the moon and a piece of torn paper for the horizon. More strips of paper were used to ink the snow mounds. I used Distress Oxide inks as I find them easier to blend.

Keeping the paper masks in place, I stamped some twiggy branches in black and did secondary stamping to for a bit of dimension. I added black ink at the base of the bushes and then heat embossed some branches in white to represent frost. The hares were stamped last of all and some shadows placed beneath them. Finally white paint splatters were applied and some Glamour Dust glitter.

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Here are this month's suggested quotes, but you can choose your own:

“If there ever comes a day when we can't be together. Keep me in your heart. I'll be there forever.” — Winnie the Pooh

“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” — Helen Keller

“Having somewhere to go is home. Having someone to love is family. And having both is a blessing.” — Author Unknown

“The length of one's days matters less than the love of one's family and friends.” — Gerald R. Ford 

 

“Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with family and friends.” — Thomas S. Monson

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That's all for now.

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 #125 Path of Positivity.

Many thanks to Scribbles Designs for sponsoring the challenge.

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

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Thanks for stopping by today!

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #805 Magic of the Season 08/11

The Holly and Ivy Challenge #171 Christmas 10/11

PIP Challenges #2444 AG 10/11

Peace on Earth #75 Christmas 14/11

We Love Stamping Nov Christmas/AG 27/11

Stamping Sensations Nov Make it Magical 27/11

A Perfect Time to Craft #11 28/11

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Conjurer of Dreams: Winter Critters

  

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.

We have a new, open, worldwide challenge at the Conjurer of Dreams Blog.

The challenge theme is always 'Anything Goes', and this month's optional theme is 

'Winter Critters'.

We hope you'll share your projects with us.

We also have a friendly Facebook Group where we would love for you to share your Conjurer of Dream projects.

Here are my DT makes:

My first card uses the Skating Penguins, with their skates cut away, and a snowman from the Snowman Build set. I made an inky sky by blending Distress Oxide inks and using a circle mask for the sun. I die cut some snow mounds from white card. I used a Sizzix die to cut the trees from Distress Oxide coloured card. White paint splatters provide the snow.

Allsorts Challenge #805 Magic of the Season 08/11

Girlz Creative Christmas Challenge #97 Penguins  09/11

Peace on Earth #75 Christmas 14/11

Critter Crazy #92 AG 25/11

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Nov 25/11

A Perfect Time to Craft #11 28/11

613 Avenue Create Nov AG 29/11

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A shaker card:

I made a shaker card using one of the Polar Bears images. Silver, blue and white are one of my favourite colour palletes for winter.I used patterned paper and white die cuts as embellishments along with paper flowers made with dies and distress oxide coloured card.

Jingle Belles Critters 06/11

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #241 AG 16/11

Mirtillamente Challenge #37 AG 27/11

Crafty Calendar Challenge Nov AG 28/11

Moving Along with the Times #172 Sparkle 29/11

Love Those Pretty Papers Nov AG 30/11

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Next a simple layered Christmas card:

I used an image from the Snowman Build set for this one, The image has an extra, fussy cut critter added to it from the same set. White die cut embellishments and Snowflakes embossed and cut with a TH Impresslit.

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A pair of ATCs:

I made these ATCs with the Winter Pines background set. I added snow splatters and clear Wink of Stella for some shimmer. I fussy cut two of the Festive Steampunk Polar Bears and added them on foam tape. I edged the backgrounds with silver paint and matted them onto black card.

These will make 2 card toppers if I need extra ones this season.

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An altered notebook cover:

I painted my Kraft notebook with Dina Wakley black paint. I used alcohol inks and Yupo paper to make the colourful background. I never seem to get this technique right and find it extremely messy, so I want to tidy up and put everything away before I've given it a real chance. Anyhow, I was quite pleased with this one. I added a Wandering Wolf image to a black die cut mat and adhered it to the Yupo paper. Die cut borders were adhere to the top and bottom edges and metal looking embellishment were added to the left and right edges. I used alpha stickers for the 'notes'. It's really bright and colourful in real life.

Crafty Animals #89 AG 27/11

NBUS Challenge #69 AG 30/11

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And finally, some digital projects.

Using Festive Polar Bear and Christmas Florals Collage:

Using Cats in Hats:

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That's all for now.

Please visit the

Conjurer of Dreams Etsy Store

Conjurer of Dreams Inspiration Group on Facebook (freebies available)

Conjurer of Dreams Blog 

CoD Monthly Challenge: Anything Goes (option Winter Critters) Challenge.

  Open worldwide to all participants, using any digis, stamping, mixed media etc

Please hop over, become a Blog Follower and join the fun.

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

Crafts Galore Encore: Rocker Cats

Hello

Today sees that start of a new challenge at Crafts Galore Encore. 

The theme is always 'Anything Goes' and you can enter up to 3 different projects.  The challenge runs all month until mid day (GMT) 29th November.

This month's challenge is kindly sponsored by Fred She Said.

Here is what I made:

It's a rocker card featuring the lovely Kitty and Ornament. I used the pre-coloured png image. I resized the digital image, making one larger cat and one smaller cat flipped horizontally. I fussy cut them leaving a thin white border. The rocker was made with two circle dies. The larger circle was folded in half and forms the base of the rocker. It was covered in burgundy herringbone patterned paper.. The smaller circle was cut in half and covered with green plaid paper. The cats were placed on the green semi-circle.

The cats needed something to hang the ornaments from, so I used two circle dies to create an arch (it is actually a full circle) and it is attached to the back of the card, giving it a little more strength.  The sentiment was stamped.

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That's all for now.

Many thanks to Fred She Said. for their generous prize of $10 store voucher for our random winner.

Please pop over to Crafts Galore Encore to see the DT's wonderful designs and to enter our challenge. 

We'd love to see your creations.

Remember the challenge is always 'Anything Goes' and so you can create any type of project - it doesn't have to be a card and you can enter up to 3 times.

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo

                                                                

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Jingle Belles Animals 06/11

My Time to Craft Christmas #98 Winter Animals 06/11

As You Like It Challenge Favourite Critter 13/11

Long time owner of kitty cats

Critter Crazy Challenge #92 25/11

Crafty Animals #89 27/11

A Perfect Time to Craft #11 28/11

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

Gecko Galz: Magical Christmas - A Christmas Banner

   Hello

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

The theme this month is Christmas Magic.

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 Christmas banner decoration in traditional Christmas colours of red, green and gold.

I used images from the Christmas Dreamland collage set and cut them with a circle die. the edges of the images are embossed in gold and gold EP was lightly sprinkled over the image too. 

I slightly offset four of the images so that the beautiful background paper can be seen.

The banner flags were die cut from card and then I die cut my precious Graphic 45 'Twelve Days of Christmas' paper and adhered it to the card. The edges of the flags were heat embossed in gold.

I made small rosettes from strips of gold paper for each image and I die cut scalloped circle mats for the images to sit upon.

The words are die cut and trimmed from the 'Christmas Circle Words' Sizzix die set.

I added a gold strip along the top of each flag - these were made with a Tim Holtz Impresslit folder, called Lattice Trim, which emboss and cut - such a pity these were discontinued as I like them. I also added a gold decorative garland to the top of each flag. Eyelets were made and red velvet ribbon threaded through. 

Here are each individual flag (for you to enlarge by clicking on them) if you so wish:

I love how this turned out and I plan to have it up in my living room this festive season.

Christmas Dreamland collage set

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That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our 'Christmas Magic' 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 November with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Christmas Magic"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

I'd like to enter these Challenges:

Crafty Catz Challenge #681 Dies 07/11

ABC Christmas Challenge  V for velvet (ribbon) 09/11

Creative Fingers Challenge #288 AG 14/11

A Perfect Time to Craft #11 28/11

Die Cut Divas Nov Any Holiday using dies 30/11

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

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