* Gecko Galz: Vintage Garden

Hello!

I hope that you are all safe and well. 

The May customer challenge at the Gecko Galz blog is Vintage Botanicals and you still have a few days until it closes on the 29th May. We would love for you to join the challenge using one or more products from Gecko Galz.

For my DT post today, I have made an altered wooden money box:

I used the beautiful Dreams of Spring paper on each side of the box and edged it with Vintage Photo ink. I fussy cut images from the Spring Charms collage set and glued each to the background papers. Along the top edge of the box I added a strip of decorative pearl trim and some lovely ivory lace. I added a Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker to each side.

Spring Charms                               Dreams of Spring
 

Next I made a faux set of tickets from kraft card:

I watched a You Tube video which inspired me to try this. The card was cut to size, scored and folded and the corners taken away using a hole punch. The edges and folds were aged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. Where the tickets join one another I stitched on my sewing machine without thread to give the perforation lines. I added papers and manuscript along with tint pieces of cheesecloth. Next I adhered some pretty florals from the Flower Garden Jewel set and Wonderful Wildflower and butterflies from the Butterfly Kisses collage set.  The numbers were cut from a bingo card from the Alter It Collage sheet. Torn washi tape and Tim Holtz Chit Chat stickers were added along with white paint splashes.

Flower Garden     Wonderful Wildflower     Butterfly Kisses


My final projects were made for the Customer Challenge Inspiration post on the 1st May:

If you are interested you can find the details of what I used here.

I hope you'll join our Vintage Botanicals 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 : "Vintage Botanicals"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

Decorated Box:

* TIOT Challenge Lovely Ladies 26/05

* MAWTT #118 Flowers 30/05 TOP 3

* Dragonfly Dreams May Ribbons & Lace/ Pearls 31/05

* Through the Purple Haze #167 AG 31/05 TOP 3

* Crafters Castle May AG 31/05

* Arty Divas Challenge #22 AG 02/06
* Corrosive Challenges #5 AG 03/06
* Creative Cafters  #28 AG 08/06

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

* Gecko Galz: Vintage Botanicals

Hello!

I hope that the start of the new month sees you all safe and well. These are difficult and testing times that we're going through and we must all play our part in staying at home to avoid the spread of the virus.

The new month sees the start of a new customer challenge at the Gecko Galz blog. The theme for May is Vintage Botanicals. We would love for you to join the challenge using one or more products from Gecko Galz.

Here is what I made:

I made a trio of cards and a decorated candle.



The cards feature images from the Botanical Jems collage sheet. I used my own paper in a neutral colour. The design of the cards is very similar, but I used different trims.

I love the beautiful butterfly on this image. The image is inked with Vintage Photo and is matted onto taupe patterned paper from my stash. I used cream textured trim, topped by white embroidered hessian and taupe cotton lace.


The lovely botanical image is atop cream textured trim, topped by  twine ribbon and a light taupe flower lace.


These thistles are on top of cream texture trim, topped with brown cotton lace and cream flower lace.


I love the neutral, calming colour palette on these cards. I also made a co-ordinating decorated candle:



I printed the butterfly image three times in a row onto tissue paper to go around he candle. The colour of the images is quite pale and so I added some colour with Polychromo pencils on the reverse of the tissue paper. The tissue was torn around the images and adhered to the candle with matt medium. I added some twine ribbon to the base and some actual twine these to the top of the image. I also added small bunches of dried natural flowers in-between the images.

Botanical Jems

I hope you'll join our Vintage Botanicals 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 20th with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Vintage Botanicals"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

* Cardz TV #113 AG 07/05
* World Wide Open DT Challenge May AG 12/05
* A Bit More Time To Craft #115 AG 13/05
* Crafters Cafe #241 AG 14/05
* Creative Fingers #185 AG 14/05
Creatalicious Challenges #186 AG 15/05

* A Perfect Time to Craft May AG 27/05
* Classic Design Challenge May AG 27/05
* Love to Craft #46 AG (1/5) 29/05
* Love to Scrap #133 AG (1/5) 29/05

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

* Gecko Galz: Spring Muse Notecard Set

Hello!

I hope that you all safe and well. 
If you need a distraction, then why not take a look at the Gecko Galz daily challenges. Just use one GG product to be in with a chance of winning a daily prize and everyone who plays along gets a collage sheet.

The April customer challenge at the Gecko Galz blog is Spring's Muse. We would love for you to join the challenge using one or more products from Gecko Galz.

Here is what I made for my DT post:

It is a set of 4 note cards with a Spring Muse theme.
I used the beautiful Dreams of Spring mini paper pack and distressed and inked the edges. I added images from various collage sheets and trimmed the cards with lace, pearls and burlap flowers.

I decided to make the cards into a gift set by making a wallet for them to rest inside:

Ode to the Muse        Colours of Spring
  

Dreams of Spring


I hope you'll join our Spring's Muse 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 May with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Spring's Muse"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

* Angies Digitalstamps #41 AG Spring 24.04
* Pammies Inky Pinkies #2016 AG 26/04

* A Perfect Time To Craft #4 27/04

* Classic Design Challenge  #4AG 29/04
* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #130 AG 02/05

* Double Trouble #55 Spring Things 03/05
* World Wide Open Design Team Challenge 12/05

* The Paper Girls #198 Girl Time 20/05

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

* Gecko Galz: Follow Your Heart

Hello!

Today is my DT day for Gecko Galz.

The customer challenge at the Gecko Galz blog is Captured Hearts and my samples are along that theme.  I have a couple of vintage makes and some colourful retro cards.

Here is a vintage style card, Follow Your Heart: 

Image: Valentine Lovers collage sheet

Paper: Scripture Mini Paper Pack

Sentiment: Heart Strings ATC set

Own Stash: kraft card, corrugated cardboard, white acrylic paint, lace, pearl trim, border dies.

***

Next is a set of four Romantic Retro Cards:

Images: Retro Love Story collage set, Isn't It Romantic collage set, 

Papers: Heart Strings ATC set (ATCs enlarged)

Sentiments: Heart Strings ATC set, Charming Words collage set

Own Stash: red texture card, dark blue pearl paper, Distress Ink, Stickles Glitter, Tim Holtz Small Talk stickers

***

Next is a retro card, Love Birds, that I featured on the 1st January here:

Image: Retro Love Story collage set

Papers: Heart Strings ATC set (ATCs enlarged)

Sentiment: Charming Words (colour altered)

Own Stash; red texture card, dark blue pearl paper, Distress Ink, Stickles Glitter

***

And finally, a hanging vintage heart, also featured on the 1st January here:

Image: Hugs and Kisses 

Sentiment:  Charming Words

Own Stash: Corrugated cardboard, white acrylic paint, heart die, pearl, Nuvo Crystal Drops, lace, sari flower, cheesecloth, gems.
*****
That's all for now!

I hope you'll join our Captured Hearts 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 weekly $1 deals!

Please pop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see the fabulous designs by the very talented DT.

We also have a Private 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 February with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog

Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Captured Hearts"

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Facebook group

***

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

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

Vintage Lace Card

* Allsorts #555 More Than a Single Word Sentiment 24/01
* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends (#1/3) #123 AG  26/01
* A Bit More Time To Craft #108 AG 29/01
The Library Craft Challenge #51 Romeo and Juliet 08/02

Retro Cards
* Creative Fingers #177 AG 24/01
* Cardz TV #106 (1/3)AG 30/01
* Crafty Friends #127 AG 31/01

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

* Vintage Wedding Acceptance Card

Hello!

Today I am sharing a card that I was asked to make by one of my friends. Her son is getting married and she wanted a personalised acceptance card as she knew the bride and groom-to-be were making a keepsake album. 

My friend chose a photograph which the couple had taken just after he proposed. 

Here is the card I made:

 I changed the photo to sepia to fit in with the vintage/shabby chic style. I used Anna Marie design papers and distressed and lightly inked the edges. A corrugated cardboard tag was aged with white paint and the distressed edged photograph was mounted on foam pads. Lace and pearls were added to the base of the tag and some natural twine thread through the top.

The tag was raised on foam pads and some die cut Scrapinec embellishments tucked beneath it. Little Birdie mulberry paper flowers were grouped around the tag with some cheesecloth and natural dried flowers, as well as some looped twine.

I didn't have an 'Acceptance' stamp or die, but found a kraft 'Thank You' tag that I thought was suitable. Twine was threaded through the tag hole and it was popped onto the bottom of the card on foam pads.

Finally a lace butterfly was attached and some crystal Nuvo drops added randomly over the background papers.

That's all for today.

Thanks for stopping by.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Creative Inspirations Sept Lace & Pearls 01/10
* Cute Card Thursday #601 Sentimental 02/10
* Crafty Catz #476 AG 03/10
* Creative Knockouts #317 AG 03/10
* Crafty Friends #119 Special Occasion 04/10
Scrappers Delights Sept AG 04/10
* Crafty Creations #399 AG 08/10
* As You Like It CAS or FAF 09/10
I choose FAF! With vintage or shabby chic distressed cards, I think the more elements, the better!
* Moving Along With The Times #107 Wedding/Anniversary 09/10

* Cardz TV #99 AG 10/10

***

* Crafts Galore Encore: Fae 3

Hello!

We have a new challenge for February at the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. The theme is always Anything Goes.

Our sponsor for February is Morgan's Art World who are generously offering 3 digi stamps to the challenge winner.

I was given a digi stamp to work with and I chose the beautiful Fae 3. Here is my card:

Fae is coloured with Copics and die cut with a stitched rectangle die. I added some white Posca pen highlights to the flower centres. I mounted the image onto pink card and set aside whilst I made the background.

The background is made from white card, swiped over with a mini Distress ink pad in Spun Sugar. I then lightly added some Memento Rose Bud ink through a stencil to created a 'faded' pattern.  I inked the edges of the background card, first with Rose Bud and then with Ranger Black ink.

I found some pretty laced and attached it to the card and topped it with some pink ribbon. The background was then matted onto pink card which was edged lightly with black ink.

The image and mat were attached on foam pads at a slight angle and I added a die cut butterfly border to the top right hand side. I made some die cut paper flowers and inked the edges of the petals. Once shaped and assembled I added some golden Prills to the centres, attached them to the card and finished them off with some die cut leaves.

The sentiment was die cut three times from pink card and glued together for some dimension. Finally 3 pearls were placed in the top left corner.

Many thanks to our sponsor

Morgan's Art World

I hope you'll take a look at their Facebook store and enter our challenge with the chance to win a these lovely digi stamps:

Please pop to over to Crafts Galore Encore to see the DT's wonderful designs.

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.

Thanks for stopping by today!

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* TTCRD wb 29 Jan AG 05/02 (#2)

* Creative Crafters #12 AG 08/02 Top 3

* Love to Craft #31 AG 08/02 (3/5) 

* World Wide Open DT Challenge #1 AG 11/02

* A Bit More Time To Craft #85 AG 14/02

* Crafters Cafe #212 Something beginning with 'F' 14/02

(Fae/Fairy)

* Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #99 AG 15/02

* Classic Design Team Challenge #2 AG 26/02 Special Mention 

* Morgans Art World #2 AG 27/02 Gold Ribbon Award
 

* Crafters Castle #14 AH 28/02

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments.