* Gecko Galz: Garden Child

 

Hello

I have 3 posts today:

Post 1: Garden Child (this one) for Gecko Galz

Post 2: Spring Muse for Gecko Galz

Post 3:  Teddy for Crafts Galore Encore

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 April is such a beautiful month, with spring in the air and flowers starting to bloom.,  Over at the Gecko Galz blog our customer challenge theme is Garden Child.

We also have the monthly Image Challenge and the monthly Christmas Image Challenge, as well as 4 Facebook challenges. 

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.

For my customer Inspiration project I made a shadow box:

I used a small Tim Holtz vignette box (second size up) to make my secret garden. I used resized ATCs from two sets, Blooming Waters (for the backdrop) and Dream Garden which I fussy cut. I added Glossy Accents to the blue delphinium flowers in the background for some shine and dimension.

The little garden child is one of the stamps from the Victorian Spring Kit - isn't she lovely! I decided to leave her in black and white so that she would contrast with the colourful flowers.

Four tiny, wooden bobbins were added to the base of the box.

Blooming Waters                   Dream Garden

 

Victorian Spring Kit

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our Garden Child 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!

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We have a new challenge using vintage digi stamps. 

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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 : "Garden Child"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

* Creative Inspirations March Spring Flowers 05/04

* Cardz 4 Galz #169 Spring Flowers 06/04

* Creative Crafters #50 AG 08/04

* Crafters Cafe Challenge #283 Use Some Flowers 14/04

* A Perfect Time to Craft AG 27/04 DT Favourite

* Crafting Happiness #122 AG 30/04

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

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Gecko Galz: Frosty Days

 

Hello

The DT at Gecko Galz have had a Secret Santa Swap. 

Here is the handmade item I made for my swap partner.

It's a shadow box that lights up.

I used a small wooden vignette box and built up layers of the same image, decoupage style. I used an image from the Frosty Collage Set.

 I added grit paste with Stampendous glitter mix, mica flakes and tiny rock stones. Concealed behind each layer are tiny lights.

I used 3D embossing folders to make the stonework for the interior walls of the box and the exterior brickwork. Distress Oxides and Distress Crayon provide the colour for the stones and bricks.

I added some die cut foliage, some real cones and some alcohol inked polystyrene balls, to represent holly berries, to one corner., along with a tiny bit of moss.

Here is the box with the lights on.

That's all for now.

Frosty

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

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Holly and Ivy"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

* Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Yuletide Delights 14/12 WINNER

* Creative Knockouts #431 Time to be Merry 15/12

* Peace on Earth #5 Anything Christmas 16/12 WINNER

* Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges #2150 AG 19/12

* A Place to Start #12 AG 31/12

* Crafting Happiness #125 AG 31/12

* Creative Inspirations #12 Christmas 31/12

* Let's Create Challenges #178 Vintage 31/12

* Paper Funday Challenges #36 AG Holidays 02/01

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #106 AG 12/01

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

Christmas Robins, Gnomes and a Santa

 

Hello

In the Gecko Galz Facebook Group, we had a Christmas Ornament and card swap. Here is what I made and sent to the USA to my swap partner, Robin. It has arrived safely, so now I can share here.

My first ornament was a large, decorated matchbox with a decoupaged interior scene:

The front of the matchbox was decorated with images from the Gnome for the Holidays collage set. I set it on a gold mat and added sparkle with mica flakes. A half of an Impresslit star was also added at the top. The sides and back of the box were covered with beautiful patterned paper from the Christmas in Nature ATC set.

For the inside I used two collage images from Frosty Garden as well as one of the cheeky gnomes from the Gnome for The Holidays collage set. The images were fussy cut and decoupaged along with some die cut foliage. Lots of glitter and mica flakes were added to represent ice and snow.

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My second ornament is a Santa wooden bauble.

I used the Santa face image from the Christmas Icons collage set. I printed the face twice, reversing one of the faces so that they could be glued back to back. The body of my santa is a flat wooden 'bauble' which I covered with red manuscript paper from the Merry and Bright ATC Collection. I filed around the edges and added some gold embossing powder. I adhered twine to replicate arms and legs and added wooden beads for weight and decoration.

His belt is a strip of glitter washi with a snowflake and gem for a buckle.

On the reverse Santa has three shiny gem stone buttons on his belt.

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And here is the card I made:

I used the Christmas in Nature ATC Set for background paper and Plaid Paper from my stash. The main image is from The Frosty Garden collage set and I added die cut flowers and foliage and a die cut sentiment.

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join  the Gecko Galz Holly and Ivy 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 11th and 20th December with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Holly and Ivy"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

* Fab n Funky Challenges #541 Anything Christmas 14/12

* Frilly and Funkie Yuletide Delights 14/12

* The Four Seasons AG Winter 25/12 TOP 3

* A Perfect Time to Craft AG 28/12

* Creative Inspirations #12 Christmas 31/12

* Let's Create Challenges #178 Vintage 31/12 WINNER

* Crafters Castle #48 AG 31/12 TOP 3

* Paper Funday Challenges #36 AG Holidays 02/01

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #106 AG 12/01

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

* AALL & Create: Nature Artist Trading Cube

Hello

First, please let me welcome Liz McGuire, my latest follower. Thank you for sharing my artsy journey, Liz!

Today is my GDT day at AALL & Create and as it is mixed media week, I have an artist trading cube to share. I had a lot of fun working in miniature as the cube is only 2.75 inches cubed. The images are a reminder that spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere and we can look forward to warmth, colour and new life.

The cube has four different scenes and a bird in a nest on top.

It has tiny wooden bobbins to act as legs, lifting it off the surface.

The elements are not glued on flat, but allowed to lift to create texture and dimension.

The wire bird in the nest was stamped twice, once in reverse, using a gelli plate, so that the two pieces could be glued together and the bird is visible on all sides.

Here are close up photos of each panel:

Work in Progress:

1. The panels were coloured with Distress Oxides using the smooshing technique. Scripted Semicircles were heat embossed with Distress Glazes and some of the wildflowers from In the Bucket were stamped.

2. Reverse Semicircles were stamped in black around the edges of each panel and texture paste was added through the Lotza Dotz stencil.

3. Small elements were stamped onto watercolour card and coloured with Inktense pencils and a water brush. They were fussy cut.

4. Words, wire birds and a butterfly were stamped onto card.

5. The cube was painted with black acrylic paint. Wooden bobbins were adhered for legs.

6. All elements were glued in place along with natural dried flowers, sisal and florists moss. A sisal birds nest was coloured with Oxide sprays, filled with moss, the large wire bird was stamped twice (one in reverse using a gelli plate) and adhered together, and confectionary eggs were added. Wire was twisted to creat a banner for hanging the word 'bird' and 'fly'.

Stamps Used for this project:

#326 Garden Tools

#449 Through the Meadows

#451 In the Bucket

#458 Hibiscus

#469 Scripted Semicircles

#487 Reverse Semicircles

Stencil used: #39 Lotza Dotz

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:

Creative Artiste #66 Mixed Media 28/03 TOP 3

CRAFT Challenge #592 Spring/Easter 31/03

Star of the Month

Top 3

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday Spring Colours 31/03 TOP PICK

Scrapping4Fun Challenges #188 Easter/Spring 1/04 WINNER

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #154 03/04

* Creative Moments €211 AG 05/04

* The House That Stamps Built #2421 AG 06/04

Thes Sisterhood of Crafters Easter/Spring 12/04 TOP 3

* Uniko Studio Challenge #64 Signs of Spring 24/04