March First With the Gecko Galz

Can you imagine, March already. I have already started my countdown to camping. Spring is by far my favourite season. The warm breezes and return of green grass lifts my spirits. It is also my favourite time to be a crafter. All the challenges become focused on soft palettes and flowy themes, My kind of themes.

Here is my sample for the March Customer Challenge on Gecko Galz: Shabby Chic Easter. Be sure to visit the blog for lots of inspiration and then enter your own creation to win a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S prize.

I decided on a tag, mostly because I only had one of this particular colour of rolled flower left and wanted to use it. I made a whole bunch of rolled flowers a couple of years ago so that I would be ready in case of a crafting emergency. That is my standard practice though, if I am cutting out die cuts or leaves or anything I always cut a few extra for future use. It has served me well over the years as I am able to quickly put together a card for a forgotten event in lightning speed.

Gecko Galz Pink and Blue Colour Challenge Sample

When you hear pink and blue do your thoughts immediately run to nursery decor? Once I got past that thought it was a pretty simple palette to work with. Gecko Galz has allot of vintage images that fall into that category. The challenge really was choosing just a few.

For this card I used the background paper from Bygone Days. I loved the soft flowy feel of the design. The two focal images came from the Beautiful Birds Collage sheet. Finally the sentiment is from the Close To My Heart stamp set "A bit of thanks".

Jane Austen Inspired Valentine Card using Gecko gals Digital Stamps and Ephemera

This is my absolute favourite project so far this month. The soft colours and imagery are so me. The lovely girl in the stamp caught my attention because she reminds me so much of Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. I don't think you would be shocked to know that it is my all time favourite movie. The first time I saw the movie (the A&E version with Collin Firth) was somewhere around 16 years ago. It was playing on A&E at some ridiculously late hour and they were in fact playing it like a true mini series. I ended up missing a couple of the chapters but fell in love with it none the less. I ordered the DVD series right away at a whopping $80 US plus way to much shipping to discuss in polite company. It arrived on my birthday and I sat down and watched all 5 hours in one shot. Then I invited my girlfriend over a couple of days later and we sat up and watched it again. It is now my birthday tradition to watch the entire 5 hours of this wonderful show. My husband has been a sport some years and sat up with me to watch it. My daughter has watched with me a few times. It is that special thing I look forward to every year. If you have a chance try to watch this classic and definitely read the book. They don't make love stories like that anymore (especially not in shades of neutral colours ;) )

To Make This Card You Will Need:

tiny pink rosebuds
sheer ribbon
white paper doily
5x7 card base
Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet)
Graphic 45 stamp from Mon Amour
Gecko Galz Ephemera, Digital Stamp and Digital Design Paper
Glue or double sided tape

How To:

1. Ink the edges of your card base using the tattered rose distress ink
2. Print off your digital paper and trim it to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4
3. Ink the edges of the design paper
4. Using a length of ribbon just longer than the paper, adhere it to the lower third of the card and fold over and tape to back of the paper.
5. Adhere the paper and ribbon to the card base.
6. Ink the white paper doily and adhere it just to the left of the card centre and slightly closer to the bottom.
7. Adhere the pocket watch image slightly askew.
8. Colour your focal image using alcohol markers and then distress the edges with the tattered rose ink. Go back over the very edge of the image with the Victorian velvet to create some shadow.
9. Adhere the focal image just over the corner of the pocket watch.
10. Glue on the rosebuds and a bow to finish off the embellishments.
11. Stamp the sentiment on a piece of cards stock and ink the edges with both colours of distress ink.
12. Adhere to the bottom right of the card.

Valentine's Day 4x4 Canvas using Gecko Galz Ephemera

I like making special little pieces of art to give to bus drivers and teachers to let them know we appreciate what they do for our children. Unfortunately with three children all in separate classes and even schools it gets a bit hard on the family coffers. If you are like me, it's really important to be as thrifty as possible. This next project certainly fits the bill.

What you need:

4x4 Canvas (I picked mine up at the Dollar Tree 2 for $1.25)

Crystal gems (again $1.25 at Dollar Tree for a huge package)

Tissue Paper

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (I used Scarlet and Dazzling Diamonds)

Plastic Vines from the Dollar Store (One vine was $2.00 and I will be able to create hundreds of projects from it)

Rolled Paper Roses

Mod Podge (it's even thriftier to make your own)

How To:

1. Prep canvas with a thin even coat of mod podge (you can make homemade mod podge with equal parts white glue and water)
2. Take a piece of tissue paper slightly bigger than the canvas and scrunch it up in your hand. Really give it a good crumple. Then flatten it out slightly and use it to cover the canvas. Don't rub out the creases as it creates texture for your background.
3. Lightly dab mod podge over the tissue using a brush.
4. Spray it thoroughly with Tattered Angels glimmer mist.
5. Allow it to dry.
6. Adhere your Gecko Galz image and use the the crystals to create a frame around the focal image.
7. Attach your greenery (I used Craft Medley Multipurpose glue) and once it is secure and the glue has dried add your rolled flowers.
8. One last step, spray a light mist of Tattered Angels Dazzling Diamonds on the entire project.

This project definitely costs less than $1 to create if you are making multiples and will use up all the leftover supplies. If you want to turn it into a magnet just add a round magnet to the back of each corner using a strong glue. They are going to love it.

Quick and Easy Valentine's Day Tag Using Gecko Galz Ephemera

This cute tag is perfect for sending off to school with the kidlets with a little package of cinnamon hearts for their teacher. Its quick and easy and requires very few supplies.

What You Need:

Cardstock to cut out a tag shape
Glitter paper or glitter glue
small white paper doily
Red Ribbon or Lace
Foam squares
adhesive backed crystals

How To:

Cut a 51/2 by 3 inch tag out of red cardstock
Punch a whole in the top using a punch or scissors
Adhere doily to top of tag leaving space between the doily and the hole you punched.
Use your glittle paper or glitter glue to create a sparkly bottom to the tag and also create a couple of little glittery red hearts.
Add your crystals in flourishes around the tag. Be sure to press them down well.
Add your focal image (in my case ephemera from Gecko Galz) by popping the four corners up using foam squares.
Tie a ribbon on the baby and you are done.

Gecko Galzs February Feature Day

Welcome back friends visiting from Gecko Galz. We are glad you stopped in.  Here is the incredibly sweet image that Gecko Galz has provided as your freebie for the month.

I used it to make a really sweet shadow box. It looks like you are peeking out the window and catch the sweethearts smooching under the tree. It turned out so well my 13 year old son said he wanted it for his room but it was too girly. High praise from a teenaged boy.

If you are interested in using the image for a shadow box just follow the steps below.

 1. Prep your shadow box. I picked this one up at Dollarama for $3 which I thought was pretty cheap. Use painters tape (I also got that at the dollar store) to mask off the glass. I used newspaper to cover the centre of the glass pane. 

 2. Be sure to remove all the stickers. Do not use Goo be Gone or anything like that as it will create a spot that will not take the paint. (ask me how I know). Usually just a warm damp rag will get it off. Be sure to let it dry before trying to paint.

 3. Do 3 very thin layers of Gesso over the entire box. Let it dry well between coats. Then using your Tattered Angels spray colour the window with dark blue and greys. Be sure to make it splotchy and darker towards the corners. After the mist has dried apply a thin coat of watered down white acrylic paint. You should now have a weathered look on the box.

4. Now you can colour the image. I used spectrum noir markers but feel free to use whatever you like. Pencil crayons or watercolours would be lovely.

 Once I finished colouring all the little bits I placed the image in the box. Next I added some vines and paper roses to create the 3D effect. Finally I sealed the box shut so my boys could not come and dump out the girly stuff and take the box to put bugs in. (I'm no newbie Mama).

Enjoy your new shadowbox. Be sure to send me a picture of your creation.

Tracy

My Grandma's Teacups February Feature Project for Gecko Galz.

Gatefold Valentine Using Gecko Galz Ephemera

Here is another simple but high impact Valentine that you can create with very few supplies and very little effort.

What you Need:
Red Cardstock
Digital Image from Gecko Galz
Digital Design Paper from Gecko Galz
White Enamel Accents (or white paint)
Paper Flowers
Adhesive Backed Pearls
White Paper Doily

Tools:

Scoring Board
Bone Folder
Paper Trimmer
Heart shaped die and machine or scissors to freehand the Heart Cutout

How To:

1. Using your paper trimmer cut a 12x12 piece of red cardstock in half. Set one piece aside to make another valentine if you so desire.
2. Using your score board, score at the the 3 and 9 inch marks.
3. Use your bone folder to give a nice clean crisp edge to the two folds as you bring them forward. You should now have a 6x6 card base with a cut down the centre front.
4. Use your heart die or freehand cut a heart out of the centre front being sure not to cut through to back paper. Be sure to align heart so that it is perfectly even on both sides of the cut.
5. Adhere a doily over the heart cut out space and carefully trim it to match the opening and also cut it so that it opens with the card.
6. Using a scrap piece of cardstock cut a heart shape larger than your operning and then cut it again to create a hollow heart shape. 
7. Glue the cardstock heart image to the left side panel only so that the card can still open.
8. Decorate the face of the card with the white enamel or white paint.
9. Adhere your flowers to the bottom of the card, ensure that they do not inhibit the card opening.
10. Add some adhesive backed pearls around the heart.
11. Cut a 53/4 square piece of design paper and adhere it to the inside of the card.
12. Centre your focal image (in my case gecko Galz Ephemera) making sure it is showing properly through the heart cutout.
13. Add any sentiment you wish to the inside of the card using stamps or pens.
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15. Once you get the hang of this card it becomes an incredibly easy card to create. It is a cute layout for any occasion.
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Romantic Vintage Inspired Necklace Using Images from Gecko Galz

Need a last minute gift for someone special. Just wait until you see how easy this beautiful vintage inspired necklace is.

What you need:

Blank silver cabochon (the type with a back in it, not a hole).
Silver chain
Digital Image from Gecko Galz
Glossy Accents
Resin Rose
Small charm that is big enough to hold resin rose

How To:

Its so simple I am not even going to break it into steps. Just cut the image to the size of the opening. I make a cardstock template first and once I get it sized right I trace it on my image and cut. Apply and even coat of glossy accents beginning in the middle of the image and allowing it to pool towards the sides. Leave the necklace to dry overnight. In the meantime you can adhere the resin rose to the charm. Once the pendant is dry you can add a jump ring to it and the charm and attach it to your chain. There you go. One sweet vintage necklace just in time for Valentine's Day.

Little Fairy Wall Hanging using Gecko Galz Digital Fairy Stamp

I think this little wall hanging turned out so stinking cute. It would be wrong though for me to force my now teenaged daughter to hang it in her room. I guess I will have to wait for someone to have a baby girl. Have you noticed the number of boys being born right now. Whoa..there must be something in the water.

How To:

1. Coat the smooth side of the coaster with Gesso.
2. Transfer the image by coating the paper in Gesso and adding it face down to the coaster.
3. Once dry remove backing paper by saturating it with water and rubbing gently with your finger.
4. Colour the image using alcohol markers.
5. Coat the coloured image only with Glossy Accents.
6. Once Dry use any paints or inks that you have to create the background. Spray it with water to create the soft flowing effect.
7. I gave mine a coat of mod podge to seal it all in.
8. Add adhesive backed gems to the outside perimeter of the circle.
9. Create a loop using your favourite ribbon and adhere it to the back of the coaster.
10. Centre a bow on the top of the design and adhere with Glossy Accents.
11. Allow all the glue to dry overnight before hanging.

I think this would look really sweet with a vintage teddy or Peter Rabbit as well. You can change the image to suit the theme of the room. Maybe even some vintage floral design for the bathroom. Have fun making your wall hanging, I certainly did.

Decorative Ceramic Tile using Gecko Galz images

Have you tried image transfers yet? I have tried several times with varied results but I purchased some Gel Medium and it works every time. I would suggest investing in some if your budget allows. A little goes a long way. 

What you need:

ceramic tile

background paper

mod podge

gesso

flowers

framed image

adhesive backed gems

strong glue

How to:

For this particular project I laid down a coat of gesso on a ceramic tile. It was the type that looks like smooth rock not the type that is smooth and heavily glazed. After the gesso dried I applied a coat of mod podge to seal it. I then applied a second generous coat and while it was still wet I covered the inked side of my paper (Gecko Galz Tara's Garden) with mod podge and placed it face down on the tile. It is really important to get all the air bubbles and wrinkles out, so use your hands or a squeegee and really make it smooth. 

Put it aside and don't even think about doing anything else until tomorrow.

After you have had your first coffee go ahead and take out your tile. You are going to need a spray bottle or sponge and water. You will totally saturate the entire surface of the paper. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then spray again. 

Using your finger, gently draw little circles on the paper. You should see little piece of the paper begin to ball up. Keep going gently. If you find the paper is drying, wet it again and continue. Keep going until you can see your image clearly. This will take some time so be patient.

When you are convinced you have all the white paper off the tile, set it aside to dry.

I added another coat of mod podge just to be sure nothing moved or soaked up colours from my embellishments later on.

I then adhered, using Glossy Accents (Craft Medley Premium Craft Glue works perfectly I was just out) all of my flowers and my framed Gecko Galz image from the Isn't It Romantic Collage sheet.

What do you think?

I stamped my sentiment using a Graphic 45 stamp from the Mon Amour collection and Daisy White ink from Close To My Heart. Using some white glitter embossing powder and my heat tool I embossed the sentiment to make it stand out. The finishing touches were the adhesive backed crystals which to me make it the cutest Valentine's Day Decor item.

Easel Valentine's Day Card using Gecko Galz Ephemera

I love February. It's not just because it's the month I was born in (though I do like that part too), it's just far enough from Christmas that life has returned to normal and not so close to Easter that we are gearing up again for holiday business. Groundhog's Day, Valentine's Day, Family Day...they are all pretty low effort fun holidays without much fanfare attached. My point being, it's a great time to craft. If you are a vintage inspired crafter like me February is your month to shine. In February there is no such thing as too many doilies in a piece or too much lace. You can just decorate to excess and it will be considered on trend.

I made a pile of projects for February. I won't inundate you with them all on one day, so be sure to come back often to see what I have been working on.

I love the lollipop flowers on the cute Valentine's card. It looks complicated but it actually is a very fast card to put together.

You will need:

Gecko Galz Ephemera Sheet
Red 12x12 cardstock (2 sheets)
flat backed adhesive gems
small piece of white or cream cardstock.

First assemble the card base. You do this by cutting your 12x12 sheet into two 12x6 sections. Set one 12x6 aside and cut the other in half forming a 6x6. Fold the 12x6 in half forming a 6x6 card base. Now score and fold the top of that card base back creating a doubled over 3x6. This will act as your hinge mechanism. Next take the 6x6 square you cut and adhere it to the card base. Be sure to only apply adhesive to the bottom half of the folded piece so that it can pop up.

Now that the base is done you will need to cut your design paper. I used Gecko Galz Ephemera and matted it on colonial white cardstock. The mat should be 5.5 inches square and the design paper should be 5.25 square.

Mat your chosen ephemera onto red cardstock and mount on card. Decorate as desired.

Use the piece of cardstock to create a sentiment and pop it up on foam squares to use it as the stopper to hold the page up.

Decorate the base as you feel appropriate,

Voila....you've done it again.

Thanks for visiting

Tracy