* Gecko Galz: Self Love Accordion Book

 Hello

Happy 2024

The new year has arrived and we have a new customer challenge over at the Gecko Galz blog.  

The theme this month is All You Need Is Love..

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 quarterly challenge where this time we're asking you to make a jewellery project.

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 is a small accordion book featuring beautiful women and inspirational sentiments. I've called it my little book of self-love as the sentiments are all about self worth and appreciation.

There is a step by step guide at the bottom of this post.

Here is the front cover. 

Two wooden hearts were heat embossed with gold glitter embossing powder as embellishments and the title was created with Tim Holt Idea-ology Label stickers.

And here the book is open.

I added a die cut row of gold hearts and a definition of 'self love'. The accordion is painted on both sides, but for this project I only added images to the front sections. More can be added later.

 

Face plate and top of accordion:

First accordion pages:

Second accordion pages:

Third accordion pages:

Accordion Book side view:

Back of book:

I used a gorgeous collage sheet called Artful Love Jewel It, and although the images are small, they can be resized, which is what I did. 

Step by step:

1. My images were printed at 4.5cm by 8cm. I also added sentiments from the Simple Encouragement Sentiments set, first removing the backgrounds, so that the words alone are printed on top of the images. I added some gold embossing powder around the edges of each image by lightly swiping the edges of the image along a Versamark pad and sprinkling with embossing powder.

2. The page base for the book is finger painted on white 200gsm card. I used PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic paint in Inky Pool, Shutters and Southern Skies. I added gold Winsor & Newton acrylic paint along the edges of each panel and also added gold splatters. I love the rich colours. Each page of the accordion is 6.5 x 8.5 cm.

3. The book cover is white 250gsm card painted with gold acrylic paint. The front and back measure 7 x 9.5 cm, whilst the spine is 1.5cm wide. Panels of the finger painted card were adhered to the front, spine and back for extra strength. The front and back panels conceal blue satin ribbon which acts as the book fastener.

4. The inside of the book cover: on the front inside is a face page and the accordion is adhered to the back cover. The photo shows the paints I used.

Artful Love Jewel It.                          Simple Encouragement Sentiments

 

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our All You Need Is Love 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 January with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "All You Need Is Love"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

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Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

* A Perfect Time to Craft AG 27/01

* Lets Craft and Create AG 31/01

* A Place to Start AG 31/01

* Mini Album Mania #2 14/02 WINNER

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

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* AALL & Create: Advice from a Chicken

 Hello!

Today is my GDT day at AALL & Create.

I have a mini book to share. It contains some sound advice and words of wisdom from Janet Klein's dancing chickens.

1. The front and back cover are made from 350gsm black card with a scored spine. The fastening twine was adhered beneath the panels and the panels were popped on foam tape.

2. Inside there is an accordion fold booklet on the right and a panel on the left.

The inside accordion was made with 250 gsm black card and the panels glued in place.

There is a hidden pocket (where the card was overlapped to make it the right length) with a double sided tag inside.

3. The background was coloured using brayered PaperArtsy Fresco paints.  Stamp #384 was heat embossed in white. Reverse Hexagons were stamped around the edges in black and texture paste was added through my favourite #39 Lotza Dots stencil

4. The images were coloured with Copic markers, Polychromo pencils and white Posca pen highlights.

My project involved lots of fussy cutting which I do whilst watching TV in the evening.

These chickens are so quirky! I'm sure that some of them are attempting yoga poses!

Here are my work in progress photos along with the products I used:

1. Painted background

2. Heat Embossing with stamp #384 Lined Hexagons

3. Texture paste through stencil #39 Lotza Dots

4. Edges inked in black using #374 Reverse Hexagons

5. Images stamped and coloured mainly with Copics

6. Fussy cut images

And voila - it's finished...

Stamps Used:

#259 Pineapple Queen

#346 For the Birds

#374 Reverse Hexagons

#384 Lined Hexagons

#406 Housewives

#407 Chicken Dance

#411 Road Trip

#422 Fly Free

Stencil: #39 Lotza Dots

Washi #4

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:

* Aud Sentiments #269 AG 23/02 WINNER

As You Like It Rubber/Clear or Digi 25/02 WINNER

My vote is for clear stamps - I like to be able to see where and what I am stamping through the stamp and acrylic block. I love the crisp inky outlines and unlike digis, they don't smear with alcohol pens or watercolours..  

* Classic Design Challenge Feb AG 26/02

A Perfect Time To Craft AG FEB 27/02 DT Favourite

Paper Funday #26 AG 28/02 Honourable Mention

*Crafty Creations #418 AG 01/03

* Vera Lane Studio: Be Mine Mini Book

Hello

Today is DT day at Vera Lane Studio.

 I am sharing a mini book that I made using a set of pre-coloured collage sheets called Be Mine. There are 2 jpg sheets containing over images and sentiments.

I made an accordion wallet mini book and there were plenty images left over.

Here it is unfolded:

The images are great to cut out and use as they come. They are perfect for making quick and easy cards. However, if you like to make them your own there are tons of things you can do with them. Here are just a few:

- add more colour/alter the colours

- clear emboss to add shine and make colours more vibrant

- add white highlights/add coloured polkadots or dashes to create patterns

- add glossy accents for shine and dimension

- add glitter or Wink of Stella 

- head swaps

- cut sections away and add to other images

(I did this with the fairy wings and I added the wings to a heart on the back page)

- mix and match with other VLS collage elements or digi stamps.

I started by making the cover which is a wallet style one with a die cut heart. Next the accordion pages were made. The cover and pages were smooshed, dipped and dabbed in Distress Oxides (Worn Lipstick and a little Picked Raspberry) to give them some colour. Next I stencilled white gesso through Janet's #118 Saturday Morning stencil and added some pink background stamping using Background Noise. I also added Grit Paste through the hearts from Janet's #114 Art stencil.

Torn washi tape was used to ground the images and all focal images were popped on foam tape for dimension.

I added acetate to the back of the front cover to make a heart window rather than leave the aperture, since the raised images would not get caught this way.

I added an eyelet and some twine to wrap around and fasten the wallet cover.

Be Mine 

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

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #151 AG 20/03

* We Love 2 Create #2 AG 25/02 TOP 3

* Classic Design Challenge Feb AG 26/02

*A Perfect Time To Craft AG FEB 27/02

Get Creative Challenges #98 Red or Pink 28/02 WINNER

613 Avenue Create JAN Heart & Soul 05/03

* Corrosive Challenges #2 AG 05/03

* Dare 2b Artzy FEB Love 05/03

AALL & Create: My Happy Place Mini Book

Hello!

I hope everyone is keeping fit and well as we come towards the end of January.

Today I am sharing my project as GDT for AALL & Create.

I made a mini book and used bright, citrus colours and Janet Klein's cuties stamps to cheer myself up.

Here is the front and back cover. I decided to feature characters at home, as that is where most of us are spending our time these days. Home, for me, is my happy place. I love being at home and in the garden.  I am ready for a bit of a change though now....

My front cover features Coffee Time and Felines ... hey - this could be me and our Casey! The back cover is a cutie called Moonlight sitting on the floor - looking at her pose, maybe she is doing Pilates or Yoga, or maybe she is just reading a good novel.

The first four accordion pages are next:

We have The Gardener who looks so happy, resplendent in her wellies, pottering around, planting seeds and shrubs and digging out the weeds. She is followed by Wing It who is feeding the birds and enjoying the nature in the garden.

Pages 5 to 8 also form an accordion:

Warm and Cosy has her coat on while she plays outdoors with her dog. And finally Sugar Cookies is cooking up a storm in the kitchen, learning new skills and baking delicious cakes and pies.

Here are close ups of the pages:

(I apologise for the lighting - today was very dull and rainy and I needed extra lights to take semi-decent photos - the glare is causing the washi tape and pencils to blur a little)

Here is how I worked on the book:

1. Smooshed, dipped and dabbed Distress Oxides for colour on the card.

2. Heat embossing in white of the Newsprint Numbers stamp.

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3. Background stamping with oxides and some Background Noise stamps. 

4. Card edges inked in black with some black Background Noise stamping.

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5. Janet Klein's cuties were stamped in Memento ink onto smooth card.

6. Coloured with Copic markers and Polychromo pencils.

7. Images were fussy cut and adhered to the backgrounds along with sentiments.

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 8. The backgrounds were adhered to the mini book base.

I'm not sure what this type of book is called - I'm settling for a double accordion.

Stamps Used:

#338 Background Noise

#354 Bunny and Bunnies

#361 Oh Boy

#409 Home

#410 Nana's Kitchen

#415 Good Book

#416 Be Beautiful

#417 Coffee Time

#419 Moonlight

#421 Sugar Cookies

#424 The Gardener

#426 Warm and Cosy

#427 Wing It

(all above stamps are by Janet Klein)

#434 Newsprint Numbers by Olga Heldwein

Washi Tape #6 by Autour de Mwa

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:

613 Avenue Create Jan AG (2) 31/01

* Penny's Challenges #488 AG 03/02

* Scrapping4Fun Challenges #184 AG 04/02

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #149 (1) AG 06/02

613 Avenue Create Jan AG 06/02 TOP ROCKER