* Gecko Galz: Beauty of the Far East

 

 Hello

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

The theme this month 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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Here is what I made as inspiration for the Customer Challenge.. 

It is a mini book with shaped, stepped pages:

I constructed the book from 300gsm white card. Each page was brayered with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Paint in Red Lipstick and Cerise. It was then heat embossed with Gold WOW Embossing Powder using a Tim Holtz background stamp.. The edges of the pages were die cut and successive pages were wider.

The front of the book - all the pages are visible, the first pages being smaller than the ones that follow. I was careful not to have any images showing on the visible parts of the page when the pages were closed and decorated those edges with heat embossed wooden leaves and gemstone flowers..

All of the beautiful Asian girl images are from the Asian Doll collage set. The Oriental words are from the Asian Words ATC set and the butterflies which were fussy cut and covered in Glossy Accents are from the Butterflies in Red collage sheet.

 

The image has a gold heat embossed wooden frame and the bird cage embellishment is also a wooden one, heat embossed in gold to match the theme.

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The first two pages open:

These are the smallest pages and I chose two images and placed them on a die cut black card shape to frame them. Glossy Accented butterflies provide embellishments and some Asian words.

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A closer look at page 1 and 2:

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Page 3 and 4

Page 4 is an aperture page

Page 4 has a die cut aperture with the edge of the aperture heat embossed to add a little definition. Gold lace trim and butterflies are the embellishments and the image you see is on page 6. The aperture works both ways, so that when you turn it over you can see the image from page 3 through it.

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Page 5 and 6

Page 5 is the back of the aperture page. 

Page 5 has a framed image alongside the aperture and here you can see the image from. page 3 through the opening.

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 This is the aperture - it allows the reader to see through to the image on page 6 and also to see the image on page 3: 

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And this is the back of the aperture,, page 5. You can see the image from page 3 through this page.

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Page 6 - a full view: 

Here I have a wooden bird cage, heat embossed in gold along with a yellow glossy butterfly from the Far East Fun Digital Kit

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This is the back of the book:

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And this is the book opened up:

 

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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!

I'll be back on the 10th August 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

* Creative Crafters #78 AG 08/08

* Creative Fingers Challenge #282 AG 09/08

*Ally's Angels 84 AG 10/08

* Mini Album Mania #6 15/08 TOP PICK

* Love to Craft #81 AG 15/08

* Mirtillamente Challenge #34 AG 27/08 TOP PICK

* A Perfect Time to Craft Aug AG 28/08

* Pinspirational Challenges #316 Die 30/08

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

Gecko Galz: Ethereal Spring

 

Hello

The theme of this month's challenge at Gecko Galz is Ethereal Spring.

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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Today is my DT day and I have some projects to share.

Firstly, I have a Diamond Pop Out card:

I used the beautiful spring girl images from the In Dreams Junk Journal Kit. I used a circle die to cut them and placed one on each of the three pop out diamond panels.  The base of the card id purple card and I used patterned paper from my stash for the background.matting onto white card.. I decorated the diamond panels with paper flowers and foliage and added die cut butterfly borders to the accordion part of the card.

Here are the different ways of folding the card for posting:

Classic Design Challenge #3 AG 12/04

Creatalicious Challenges #275 AG 14/04

PIP Challenge #2414 AG 14/04

Creative Fingers Challenge #275 AG 19/04

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #227 AG 20/04

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Next I made a spring banner decoration:

I used a die to cut the banner flags. Two flags were cut for each - the larger flags were coloured with Kitsch Flamingo Distress Oxide and the smaller flags were die cut from the Rainbow Connection ATC papers.. I added pink satin ribbon to hold the flags together. 

The lovely children images are from the Spring Charms, and Easter Children collage sets. The lamb and chicK are from the Easter Tokens collage set. All of the images were fussy cut, inked around the edges and popped on foam pads for some dimension. Some cheesecloth was placed beneath each image for a bit of texture and interest. I added handmade, die cut, paper flowers and foliage to finish off the bunting.

A Place to Start April Add Flowers 30/04

613 Avenue Create April AG 02/05

The Outlawz Challenges - Card Free Zone : Easter 03/05

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As inspiration for the customer challenge, I made a flag booklet. 

More photos and information about this project can be found in this post: Spring Flag Book

And finally some digital art collages:

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our Ethereal Spring 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 in May with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Ethereal Spring

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. 

***

Gecko Galz: Victorian Fantasy 2

 

Hello

and welcome to my blog :)

November is here already and we have a new customer challenge over at the Gecko Galz blog.  

The theme this month is Victorian Fantasy. 

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 an altered shrine.. 

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's what I made:

The floral background paper and butterflies are from the Victorian Elegance Junk Journal Kit, whilst the image is fussy cut from the Pretty Victorians collage set. I added some die cut, tea-stained doilies and some pretty lace and backed it on handmade paper.

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I made a card, adding lace and pearls for simple elegance. The image is from Pretty Victorians and isn't she pretty. The paper is digitally altered to blue and is from the Victorian Kit. I used silver shimmer paper for mats and layers:

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I love these ladies - I imagine they're friends enjoying an afternoon tea-dance.  One of them says, 'We've been friends so long, I've forgotten which one of us is the bad influence.'

The image is from De-lovely Victorians.

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I also made a small accord book  

The details can be found here.

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Products Used:

Pretty Victorians         Victorian Elegance Junk Journal Kit          De-lovely Victorians

  

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our Victorian Fantasy 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 digita 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 : "Victorian Fantasy"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

Gecko Galz: Children of the Past

 

Hello

I've been having a play with the Gecko Galz Monthly Kit Club image pack for September which is called Children of the Past. It contains 50 beautiful sepia photographs of children from bygone days. All of the monthly kits are fabulous, each containing 50 images.

I made two mixed media cards with my favourite photos from the Children of the Past kit.

I love the expression on the little girls face - in my head she's so envious and somewhat 'miffed' that she's not receiving the kiss ... such a precious moment captured on camera.

I printed the photos onto glossy photograph paper. I made backgrounds using stencils and Infusions and Brushos, adding some of the Sprinkle It for shimmer. Next I stamped in black mainly around the edges and added some gold paint splatters. 

The photos were arranged along with some die cuts and some gems were added along the photo edges. I made some paper flowers and foliage to compliment the autumnal colours. I matted the backgrounds onto black and popped them onto card bases.

How adorable is this little girl with her knitting, taking time to pet her kitty :)

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our 'Stitch in Time' 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 the monthly Image Challenge, the monthly Christmas Image Challenge, the monthly Stamp Challenge, a Steampunk Challenge and a Gothic Challenge on the blog, as well as 4 Facebook challenges. 

We hope you can find some time to join in the fun.

Here are the Facebook Group challenges, each has a collage sheet prize. 

Do come and join us!

I'll be back on 1st October with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "A Stitch in Time"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

* Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges #2238 AG 25/09

* Crafting Happiness Challenges Autumn 25/09

* Classic Design Challenge #9 AG 27/09

* Penny's Challenges #530 AG 27/09
* A Perfect Time to Craft AG 28/09

* Creative Knockouts #471 Choose any 2 28/09

gems/diecuts

Simply Create Too #184 Orange and Brown 30/09

* Dream Valley #278 Autumn Colours 31/09

My Time to Craft #491 Pick 3 Autumnal Colours 05/10

 oranges, browns, gold/yellows, black

Creative Fingers #239 AG 07/10

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***

Gecko Galz: Springtime in Paris

Hello

It's my DT day on the Gecko Galz blog and this month our challenge theme is La Vie Paris.

We also have the monthly Image Challenge, the monthly Christmas Image Challenge and the monthly vintage stamp 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.

Here are my makes:

First is a decoupaged and collaged card using characters from the Parisian Garden Kit set. They were fussy cut and set inside a rose adorned frame from the same set.I printed two of the frames, so that I could fussy cut the rose bough and butterflies and pop them on foam pads for dimension. 

Next I have a pretty lady from the Parisian Ladies collage set. 

She is framed in Vintage Frame 24 from the Vintage Frames Kit. I added a fussy cut butterfly.

I used another background from the Parisian Garden Kit and added a fussy cut lady from the Sweet Fashion collage set.

I distressed the edges of the papers and added some die cut flourishes to add a little texture.

And finally a digital collage using several png elements from the Parisian Garden Kit:

Below is the card I made as inspiration for the customer challenge and you can read about that here.

That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our La Vie Paris 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 1st June with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "La Vie Paris"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

***