* Gecko Galz: Oriental Adventures

  

Hello

This month the customer challenge over at the Gecko Galz blog is 

The Beauty of the Far East..

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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It's my DT day today, so here is what I made: 

A set of fun tags made from a die cut rectangle of kraft card. 

I inked the edges with Vintage Photo ink and added Oriental backgrounds (digitally enlarged) from the Ancient Splendour Domino collage sheet. I distressed the edges of the background images and chose some fun images from the Far East Fun Digital Kit and fussy cut them. Some ivory lace and some natural trim were added along with a shop bought flower from Little Birdie Crafts. I used a crop-a-dile to make a hole and add an eyelet then threaded twine through.

*A Cut Above Aug AG with die 28/08

*Crafty Calendar August AG 28/08 TOP 3

*Scrapping4fun Challenge #238 AG 29/08

*Pinspirational Challenges #316 Die 30/08

*A Place to Start Aug 31/08 Rising Star & Top Sprout

 

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I made a couple of cards:

These just use paper from the Asian Botanicals paper pack - no embellishments at all - and they are, I think, beautiful. I simply matted the paper onto red and then black card and popped them onto a white card base.

Then, I decided to add a couple of fussy cut images, one freom the Ancient Splendour Domino collage sheet and one from the Far East Fun Digital Kit:

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I also made a couple of cards using the stunning Asian Doll images using traditional Japanese hand made Yuzen paper.

 I used black card to mat the images and the paper and it really makes the colours pop. I added glossy butterflies and a black and gold sentiment.

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #235 AG 17/08

* Daisy Chain Challenge #88 For the Girls 28/08

* A Perfect Time to Craft Aug AG 28/08 DT Favourite

* Love Those Pretty Papers Aug AG  31/08

* Let's Create and Craft Challenge Aug AG 31/08

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I also made this mini book which I posted about earlier in the month. If you are interested you can read about it HERE.

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That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our Beauty of The Far East 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!

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That's all for now.

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

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Beauty of the Far East"

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. 

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* Vera Lane Studio: Aloha

Hello

Once more it is Monday and so it's my Vera Lane Studio DT day. 

Today I have a project using an older digi set called 'Maui': 

How cute are these two squishies enjoying their beach holiday :)

I coloured them with Copics and pencils and made their background from stencils and smooshing, using different colours and textures to simulate a beach background. I added white embossing, some black stamping and loads of paint splatters. There was a lot of fussy cutting, so it's good job I don't mind that! 

Here are squishy close ups:

Maui

That's all for now.

I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane. It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

  

Here's all the info you need:

Vera Lane Studio Blog

***Vera Lane Studio Facebook Group***

Vera Lane Studio You Tube Channel

Vera Lane Studio Etsy Shop

AALL & Create carry Janet's clear stamp sets, stencils and Washi Tape. 

A list of stockists can be found here.

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Mirtillamente Challenge July AG 27/07

* Daisy Chain Challenge #76 Summertime 28/07

* Lets Create and Craft #197 Add Flowers 31/07

* Rabisco Challenge 47 AG 31/07 Top 3

*The Crafting Challenge Summertime 31/07

* A Place to Start July Life's A Beach 03/08 Top Sprout

* Creative Crafters #66 AG 08/08

* Papercraft Challenges #96 Summer Fun 14/08

* Love to Craft #75 AG 15/08

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

AALL & Create: Vintage Sewing

Hello 

 For my Guest DT project at AALL & Create this week I have made a mini book featuring the beautiful vintage stamps by Tracy Evans. I have added lace, pearls and embroidery floss as embellishments. I also did some wonky hand and machine stitching.

Here is the front cover. Washi tape, lace and ribbon trim, pearls and stencilled sparkle paste add texture nd dimension throughout the booklet. The book closes with some ribbon trim toed in a bow:

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The pages were mounted onto black card. Fussy cut focal images were adhered on top of the stamped images to add contrast:

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I added cross stitches over the sentiment and wonky hand stitching holding the lace in position. The buttons have embroidery thread stitched threw the holes and the bobbin has thread wound around it.  The scissors and thimble are coated with glossy accents.

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Fussy cut images are placed on top of stamped images. Scissors and thimble are cut from coloured card and clear embossed.

My process: 

I made the backgrounds by smooshing, dabbing and dipping white card into Distress Oxides:

I machine stitched around the edges of the coloured card:

I stamped images from # 396 Sewing Forever and elements from #399. I also stamped the focal ladies from #396 onto white card and fussy cut them:

I stamped #262 Mesh with Versafine ink and used Distress Glaze in Antique Linen to add texture to the background. I also stamped and fussy cut several thimbles, scissors, bobbins and buttons from # 439 Sewing Kit.

Stamps Used: (all designed b Tracy Evans)

#262 Mesh

#396 Sewing Forever

#399 Framework Elements

#438 Ephemera Digits

#439 Sewing Kit

Stencils Used:

#39 Lotza Dots - Autour de Mwa

#100 Nodes - Autour de Mwa

Washi Used: #12 - Tracy Evans

To see the stamps, stencils and dies 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 Moments #204 AG 20/12

* A Perfect Time to Craft #12 AG 27/12

* Crafty Creations #416 AG 30/12

* A Bit More Time to Craft 130 AG 30/12

* Corrosive Challenges Dec AG 31/12

* Lets Craft and Create #166 AG 31/12

* Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday AG DEC 31/12 Top 3

* 613 Avenue Create Dec AG 31/12 

* A Place to Start Anything Vintage 03/01 TOP SPROUT

Creative Crafters #35 08/01

World Wide Open DT Challenge Jan 12/01

Creations in Pink #29 Mainly Pink 14/01

* Nibs Flag Book

Hello!

Today I would like to share a Flag Booklet that I made in an online workshop with Tracy Evans. Tracy is a wonderful teacher and a fantastic stamp designer and you can find her Facebook Group here. She frequently does online demos showing her wonderful techniques and explaining how she envisages her stamp sets to be used. She is such a talented lady and is so generous with her time and ideas.

So here is the flag book that I made.  The pages were finger painted with PaperArtsy Fresco paint and then stencilled over. All stamps and stencils are from AALL & Create. The stamps are Tracy Evans's designs, the Knibs and Mushrooms set being the main feature. I decided to dedicate this little booklet to my husband as he is forever writing short stories.

This is the front cover.

It has a shaker element (made from recycled packaging) above the spotlighted Knibs and a Tim Holtz metal nib embellishment. Polychromo pencil colouring is added to some of the white pens:

This is the back cover. Tags are inserted into the back cover and a torn dictionary page definition of the word 'story' is attached. The black alpha tape is Tim Holtz Idea-ology Label Tape:

When it is opened up, the flag pages open in different directions ... such fun!

 

The first pages below have stamped nibs and Tim Holtz alpha stickers spelling 'write', 'ink' and 'story'. There is cheesecloth stitched into the inside cover for some texture. An Index Clip is attached to the sentiment flag:

The middle pages feature stamping from Hexagonal Stem and Nature Elements as well as the nibs. Some torn book pages have been stamped and added over the nibs in the bottom right flag:

The last pages. I love the sentiments 'Imagination has no limit' and 'Create your own magic' as these perfectly describe what my husband does when writing his stories. I used the alpa stickers to spell out the word 'author' which made him smile a lot!

And ...oops - you may have spotted my mistake. I stamped the numbers on the tags upside down!

If, like me, you are missing workshops and craft shows, or just want to have a crafty few hours with like-minded people and have some fun, as well as learning new techniques, then come and join Tracy's Facebook group.

Hope to see you there. 

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

                                                                                                                                            

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Crafting Happiness #48 AG 17/05
* Pammies Inky Pinkies #2019 AG 18/05
*Crafty Sentiments #12 AG 19/05
* Dream Valley #225 Favourite Colours 23/05
* A Perfect Time to Craft May AG 27/05
* Classic Design Challenge May AG 27/05
* Craft Stamper, Take it, Make it AG 28/05

* A Place to Start Custom Background (6/8) 30/05 TOP SPROUT

* 613 Avenue Create  #233 AG 30/05

* Not Just Cards May AG 11/06 WINNER

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo